Duterte arrives in Bangkok for 34th Asean Summit

BANGKOK— President Duterte landed at the Thai capital around 10 p.m. Friday to attend the 34th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Mr. Duterte will join the other leaders of the 10-member regional bloc to discuss regional and international concerns, as well as partnerships and sustainability.

He will discuss with Asean leaders the developments in the South China Sea, the US-China trade war, terrorism and violent extemism, climate change, and transnational crimes including the trafficking of illegal drugs.

He will also discuss ways to deepen cooperation on inclusive, equitable, sustainable economic development, further enhance regional mechanisms, and promote and uphold the rights of migrant workers and other vulnerable groups.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the summit will tackle how the regional bloc could maximize the emergence of digital technologies to attain Asean’s vision.

Mr. Duterte is expected to discuss how Asean could prepare its people for the advent of new technologies, said Lopez.

Mr. Duterte will hold bilateral meetings with Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-Cha.

The President is also set to meet with the top business leaders of Thailand on Saturday to promote the Philippines as an investment destination.

The business leaders are involved in banking, food manufacturing, agriculture, agribusiness, and real estate.

The President will join the Asean leaders for a plenary meeting, a gala dinner, and the actual summit, which will formally open on Sunday.

He will also attend the 13th Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area Summit.