21 would leaders ti grace 31st Asean meet - Paynor

TWENTY-one world leaders are expected to participate in the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit and Related Meetings in the Philippines in November, a diplomat said on Tuesday.

Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr., director general for operations of the Asean 2017 National Organizing Committee, said there was no indication that the 21 heads of state, as well United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, would not grace the event.

"We will have a total of 21 heads of state, heads of government, plus the Secretary-General of the United Nations," Paynor told a press conference.

"Thus far, we have not had any indication of anyone not coming. So as long as they have not indicated that they are not coming, we assume that they are," he added.

The Philippines is this year's chair of the Southeast Asian bloc, whose other members include Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The Philippines will host the 31st Asean fora, which will be simultaneously held in Manila and Clark, Pampanga on November 11 to 14.

The event is slated to be attended by Asean's dialogue partners, including Australia, Canada, China, European Union (EU), India, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia, and United States.

Paynor noted there would be numerous bilateral dialogues among Asean leaders and their dialogue partners that will be held at Philippine International Convention Center and Sofitel and Solaire hotels in Manila.

"A good number of bilateral meetings between and amongst the various different leaders who are coming in here but mostly from the dialogue partners. They will want to meet with each other or with Asean leaders," he said.

ASEAN, P11