Duterte joins 38th, 39th Asean Summit

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte participated in the opening ceremony of the 38th and 39th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit on Tuesday.

Duterte attended the Asean Summit and related summits virtually in Malacañang Palace due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

This year’s Asean Summit, with a theme “We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper,” is chaired by Brunei Darussalam from October 26 to 28.

According to a social media post of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), Asean leaders discussed several matters, including recovery efforts and responses to control the effects of the pandemic region-wide, the Asean Community Building initiatives, and regional and international developments.

https://www.facebook.com/pcoogov/videos/1039226936929498

The leaders likewise called on to spur Asean’s economy while considering the importance of health and safety. They pressed for the equitable access of all countries in the region to COVID-19 vaccines.

Participating leaders pushed ”to adopt the Asean Travel Corridor Arrangement Framework for the safe resumption of essential travel among Southeast Asian peoples that would also contribute towards economic recovery.”

Asean leaders are likewise anticipated to adopt over 20 outcome documents “relative to various key issues of concern and cooperation,” PCOO said.

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