MANILA — President Rodrigo R. Duterte left the country on Thursday night to attend the 32nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Singapore on April 27 to 28.
Duterte is scheduled to meet Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to discuss how Southeast Asian nations can strengthen community-building and advance greater peace, security and stability in the region.
He is also expected to discuss with fellow ASEAN leaders regional and global threats on peace, security, especially terrorism in the region.
In his departure speech at the Davao International Airport, Duterte vowed to engage Southeast Asian partners to achieve the change needed.
“We will continue to work towards the realization of ASEAN Vision 2025 by identifying and prioritizing initiatives that will move forward [action] lines in the ASEAN’s political-security, economic, and socio-cultural communities,” Duterte said.
The President also committed to promote the further implementation of outcome documents, particularly the ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers and the ASEAN Declaration on the Role of the Civil Service as Catalyst to Realize ASEAN Vision 2025.
Meanwhile, Duterte also vowed to use ASEAN as a venue to uphold and protect the rights of our countrymen working abroad.
“Upon my return, as usual, I shall report what we have achieved as we continue to stay true to our mandate of serving the best interests of our nation and people,” Duterte said, adding that he looks forward to meeting with Filipino workers in Singapore. (PNA)
