President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, in a speech read by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin Jr, first expressed his gratitude to the United States (US) for its generous assistance of state-of-the-art ventilators and other medical supplies to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the Philippines. He further invited the US to contribute to the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund, the ASEAN Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies and the ASEAN Center for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases.
On the recovery front, the President asked ASEAN member-states and the US to sustain the initiatives of the ASEAN-US Strategic Partnership for regional growth, where both parties could benefit from increased trade and investments as well as cooperation in the digital economy and innovation.
On the South China Sea, the Chief Executive underscored that the Philippines is for the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law stressing there is no other viable path but honest negotiations and sincere diplomacy.
