PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, November 12, departed the country to participate in the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit and Related Summits that will be held in Singapore on November 13 to 15.
Duterte left Davao International Airport at around 5:13 p.m., Monday, the Palace said.
In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte and nine other Asean leaders would check on the progress of the implementation of the Asean community blueprints.
"The 33rd Asean Summit in Singapore will be an opportunity for the Philippine government to join in discussions pertaining to the progress of the Asean community blueprints and in bringing Asean closer to the realization of a people-centered Asean Community," Panelo said.
Duterte, along with nine other Asean leaders, will hold discussions with dialogue partners from the United States, China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, India and Australia in Plus One Summit format.
The Southeast Asian leaders will also have a conference with China, Japan, and South Korea through Asean Plus Three Summit.
An East Asia Summit is also scheduled to allow the regional bloc leaders to have a dialogue with the leaders of the United States, China, Russia, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, India, and Australia.
"The related summits in Singapore will give the President the chance to witness the progress of Asean’s relations with its dialogue partners, with the goal of fostering deeper cooperation on priority areas including peace, security, economy, and overall well-being of our people," the Palace official said.
Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Junever Mahilum-West earlier said Duterte would touch on key issues like the South China Sea disputes, Korean peninsula, global economy, infrastructure development, and challenges to economic integration.
The President was also expected to raise non-traditional issues such as terrorism, violent extremism, illegal drugs, trafficking in persons, disaster management, women and youth development, climate change, people-to-people exchanges, and the rights of migrant workers.
"This is a summit with the major players in the region. We can expect engaging discussions on regional and international issues that impact on the peace, security, and overall well-being of the peoples of our region," Mahilum-West said in a November 9 press briefing. (SunStar Philippines)