SINGAPORE — President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, April 27, met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Indonesian President Joko Widodo at the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders’ Summit here.
The President together with some of his Cabinet officials first met with Prime Minister Phuc at Ritz-Carlton Millenia Hotel.
The Prime Minister congratulated Duterte for the successful Philippine ASEAN chairmanship, stating that its outputs were good foundations for more productive work for ASEAN.
Both expressed confidence in the steady growth of Philippine-Viet Nam strategic partnership.
Duterte said the Philippines looked forward to increasing two way trade with Viet Nam and encouraged more investments.
Both leaders cited the importance of partnership to ensure ample supply of rice in the Philippines.
They also stated the need to continue working closely together to ensure security and stability in the region, including in the South China Sea.
The two reaffirmed the importance of United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea as the constitution of the oceans.
Prime Minister Phuc likewise thanked President Duterte for the humane treatment and release of Vietnamese fishermen who were caught in Philippine waters.
Duterte then thanked Vietnam for hosting Filipinos in their country.
Both leaders reaffirmed the value of Philippine-Vietnam relations.
After his meeting with Prime Minister Phuc, President Duterte met with Indonesian President Joko Widodo at Istana.
The two leaders during a pull aside meeting reaffirmed the importance of relations between the Philippines and Indonesia.
Both renewed the commitment to work at further strengthening ties on issues of mutual importance, including security, stability and sustainable development.
They also discussed opportunities to meet again in the future at a mutually agreed event or date.
The President then joined his fellow ASEAN leaders in a social dinner hosted by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, which was followed by the Plenary Session. (PND)
