PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will be visit Cambodia this week to participate in the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), a foreign affairs spokesman said Monday.
Speaking to reporters, acting Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesman Robespierre Bolivar said Duterte, this year's Asean chairperson, will grace the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Geneva, Switzerland, as an honored guest of the event.
Bolivar said Duterte would be given the opportunity to promote the Philippines’ economic and development plan for 2017, branded as "DuterteNomics," before the WEF participants.
“In particular, the organizers of the World Economic Forum have given the President, I think, a press conference, if I’m not mistaken, to address the business leaders, the CEO (chief executive officers) who are present to promote DuterteNomic and the President’s socio-economic agenda,” he said.
It is the first time Cambodia will host the WEF on Asean, with three program pillars which include the Asean in the New Global Context; Asean and the Connectivity Agenda; and Asean and the Youth Agenda.
Over 700 leaders from business, government, civil society, and the media are expected to participate in the WEF.
As this year's Asean chair, Bolivar said Duterte is set to share the achievements of the regional bloc.
“The President is expected to share his views on the region’s achievements and challenges, and to deliver a message to the youth of Asean,” Bolivar said.
“As a focus of WEF later this week is Asean, the President is likely to inform the participants of the progress made in the building of the Asean economic community," he added.
Meanwhile, Bolivar said the President would fly to Hong Kong to meet Filipino migrants there. Around 210,000 Filipinos are residing and working in Hong Kong, as of March 2017.
Bolivar cited that overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong have contributed to the Philippines’ economic gains.
“The [Filipino] community has also been instrumental in promoting enhanced trade relations between the Philippines and Hong Kong, and in promoting our country’s investment opportunities and tourist destinations.
Duterte would stay in Hong Kong from May 11 to 13. He would then go to China on May 13 to attend the Belt and Road Forum from May 14 to 15. (SunStar Philippines)