President Rodrigo Duterte finally came to Vientiane, Laos as his first trip abroad since June 30 when he sit as the 16th president.
President Rodrigo Duterte arrived on Monday night in Laos to attend the 28th and 29th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits. The meeting of the member-states of the ASEAN will be held in the capital city of Laos, Vientiane.
Duterte flew to Laos on Monday afternoon flew and this is his first trip abroad as the chief executive of the Philippines. He is from Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City.
The President and his 30-member delegation arrived at Wattay International Airport at about 8:20 p.m., Philippine time. They immediately proceeded to Feungfair Convention Hall to meet with the Filipino community.
Even the president’s trip to Laos was nearly cancelled due to a blast in the Duterte’s hometown of Davao City that killed at least 14, he finally made it on Monday, together with his delegation.
On September 4, Duterte was supposed to leave for Brunei and with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah but he cancelled it because he chose to stay in the Philippines after the Davao City attack that aside from killing 14 people, it injured more than 60 others.
The president will take part in the opening ceremony of the summit Tuesday afternoon in the National Convention Center of Laos and will also join the rest of the ASEAN leaders for their first plenary meeting.
During his first foreign trip to participate in the summits, Duterte faces a hectic schedule. He is expected to participate in more than 10 meetings. Aside from this, he will also have his bilateral meetings with counterparts on the sidelines of the summit.
The ASEAN leaders, specifically, will meet with representatives of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly and ASEAN youth representatives, and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council.
On Wednesday and Thursday, ASEAN leaders will meet with leaders of ASEAN dialogue partners including China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Australia, India, and the United States. There will also be an ASEAN summit with the United Nations.
Duterte will also attend related summits such as the ASEAN Plus Three Summit with leaders of China, Japan, and Republic of Korea; and the 11th East Asia Summit with leaders of Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia, and the US, as headed by President Barack Obama.
Accompanying Duterte in Laos were Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr., Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez and Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, and others.