Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 22) — President Rodrigo Duterte will have a full schedule on Friday as he attends the 36th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.
His spokesperson Harry Roque on Monday said Duterte is expected to attend a full day of events for the summit, which will be held via video conference due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc will chair the opening session, plenary session, and special sessions on women empowerment. There will also be an ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly and ASEAN leaders’ interface with representatives of ASEAN Youth and ASEAN Business Advisory Council.
Roque said Duterte may discuss issues on China in his meeting with world leaders.
“Walang special session sa pag-uulat on his chairmanship of China-related matters, siguro papasok sa meeting with heads of state,” the spokesman said. The Philippines is coordinator of the ASEAN-China dialogue partnership for 2018 to 2021.
[Translation: There is no special session to report on his chairmanship of China-related matters. It may be discussed during the meeting with heads of state.]
The 36th ASEAN Summit was originally slated to be held in Vietnam from June 27 to 28, but it had to be changed to a virtual conference due to the global health crisis.
Duterte in April urged ASEAN leaders to “come together and cooperate even more” on food and medicine security amid the coronavirus pandemic.
