Cambodian PM arrives in PH for Asean Summit

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen arrives at the Naia terminal 2. MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB/INQUIRER.net

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen arrived in Manila on Friday afternoon to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit.

Hun Sen arrived at 2:12 p.m. at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 2. He was welcomed by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi

The strongman, who has been prime minister of Cambodia since 1985, will be meeting President Rodrigo Duterte and other Asean leaders over the next couple of days.

Duterte met Hun Sen in December last year when the President visited Cambodia.

READ: Cambodian PM Hun Sen-Duterte tête-à-tête held at Peace Palace

After meeting with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, Duterte had expanded bilateral talks with Hun Sen at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh. They signed four agreements on tourism, labor, sports and transnational crime.

Philippine Ambassador to Cambodia Christopher Montero earlier said that Hun Sen admires Duterte for standing up to Western countries.

“I must tell you that Prime Minister Hun Sen has deep admiration for President Duterte. He has expressed it publicly in the past. He sees in him an ally in terms of standing up against Western countries in so far as noninterference in internal affairs of the state is concerned,” Montero said at the time.

READ: Hun Sen admires Duterte, says PH envoy

Cambodia is a known ally of China, which claims a large part of the South China Sea, including areas within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. Reports said it has blocked efforts to mention in Asean statements the ruling of the international arbitral tribunal on a petition filed by the Philippines.

However, Montero said the South China Sea issue “is not the defining issue” of the bilateral relations between Cambodia and the Philippines.

As chairman of this year’s Asean Summit, the Philippines is hosting a series of events in Manila./rga

WATCH: Cambodian PM Hun Sen waves to media upon arrival.He was welcomed by DOE Sec Cusi #ASEAN2017 @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/taYipwxjbn

— Marc Jayson Cayabyab (@MJcayabyabINQ) April 28, 2017