Duterte pushes closer regional cooperation at ASEAN gathering
President Duterte is back home from a brief visit to Indonesia where he pushed for closer regional cooperation to promote growth and address threats to security and stability.
The President arrived in Davao City early yesterday morning after attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Leaders' Gathering in Bali.
"I am pleased to be back home from an engaging interaction with my fellow ASEAN leaders and heads of international institutions at the ASEAN Leaders’ Gathering in Bali," Duterte said.
"At the meeting, I reiterated the Philippines’ national priorities of inclusive growth, stable and secure environment, and economic integration in the region," he added.
Duterte said he also highlighted the importance of ASEAN-centered efforts, citing the need to "invest in ourselves and within" the regional bloc.
He called for a "stronger ASEAN to sustain the efforts towards greater peace, progress, and prosperity for Southeast Asia and its peoples."
"Only when we are willing to invest in ourselves can we ensure resiliency amid the challenges of trade tensions, threats to security and stability, and increasing natural calamities," he said.
While attending the summit in Bali, Duterte extended the country's sympathies to Indonesia which was hit by a devastating earthquake and tsunami.
He said the country extended humanitarian aid to disaster-hit Indonesia. "I personally conveyed to Indonesian President Joko Widodo the Philippines’ condolences to Indonesian people who suffered successive earthquakes and tsunami," he said.
"In times of need, Indonesia was ready to help. Now, we are giving back. That’s the ASEAN way. That’s our duty as brother and a neighbor. Indonesia welcomed the humble assistance we coursed through the ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management," he said.
On the sidelines of the ASEAN gathering, Duterte met Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and tackled the "delineation of our boundaries."
"I told him that in due time, that we will take a longer period for we have to establish even our continental shelf limits," he said.
Both leaders agreed to work more closely to achieve shared goals for stability in the region. "At the end of the meeting, the Philippines remains committed to work closely with ASEAN and key global institutions to ensure a peaceful, secure, and stable environment that promotes the greater common good," Duterte said.