Suu Kyi, Hun Sen among ‘early birds’ for Summit

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga — Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi are among the earliest heads of state to arrive in the country for the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Meetings this week.

Hun Sen arrived at the Clark International Airport (CRK) in Pampanga at 1:26 p.m., two hours delayed from his original arrival schedule.

The Cambodian Prime Minister was welcomed by Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Hun Sen, one of the longest serving leaders in the world, has held power for more than 32 years.

Suu Kyi, on the other hand, planed in at CRK at 2 p.m. and was welcomed by the same party led by Lorenzana and Arroyo.

Myanmar’s de facto leader came from Da Nang, Vietnam, where she attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, which concluded Friday.

A Nobel Peace laureate, Suu Kyi met with President Duterte last month and was also in the country last April for the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit.