Key issues top summit agenda

World leaders expected to tackle North Korea threat, maritime disputes and rights of migrant workers

President Duterte is hosting his second international gathering in the country this month when 21 world leaders converge in Manila for the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit and related summits on Nov. 13 to 14.

The Asean summit, which coincides with the regional bloc’s golden anniversary, is expected to tackle pressing regional issues including the nuclear threat from North Korea and the maritime disputes in the South China Sea, in relation to which the organization is in the process of coming up with a code of conduct with China.

The leaders are expected to announce the start of formal negotiations for the code of conduct when they meet this month.

The Asean Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers, which seeks to improve the treatment of migrant workers and their access to justice, will also be signed.

But the issues won’t simply be confined to Southeast Asia. The Asean is also expected to enhance its relationship with its dialogue partners in other meetings in Manila.

Aside from the heads of the Asean member states, leaders from the United States, Canada, Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea and Russia are coming to the Philippines, along with United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres and European Council President Donald Tusk.

Mr. Duterte and Trump, who saw each other at the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Vietnam, may have a bilateral meeting in Manila.

The 31st Asean Summit has the theme “Partnering for Change, Engaging the World.” Mr. Duterte will chair the plenary, where aside from tackling regional and international concerns, the leaders will discuss the implementation of the Asean Community Vision 2025 and the appointment of a new secretary general.

Mr. Duterte will also chair the Asean’s commemorative summits with the United States, Canada and European Union to mark the 40th year of their relationship.

He will lead the 20th Asean Plus Three Commemorative Summit; 20th Asean-China Summit; 19th Asean-Republic of Korea Summit; 20th AseanJapan Summit; 12th East Asia Summit; 15th Asean-India Summit; and the 9th Asean-UN Summit.

The meetings are expected to lay down the future direction of these partnerships.

Asean leaders will meet with the Asean Business Advisory Council. The Asean Plus Three (China, Japan, South Korea) will have an interface with the East Asia Business Council.

Also on the schedule is the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Leaders’ Summit with the Asean members and the leaders of Australia, China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea and New Zealand.

Before the series of meetings, Mr. Duterte will host on Nov. 12 the special gala celebration of Asean’s 50th year.

On Nov. 14, he will host a lunch in honor of the East Asia Summit heads of state and government, and other guests of the chair.

At the closing ceremonies for this year’s summit meetings, Mr. Duterte will hand over the Asean chairmanship to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore.

Our common purpose is to ensure the peace, prosperity and stability of this region which over 600million people call home Albert del Rosario Philippine ambassador and former DFA secretary