Trump lauds Duterte: Rodrigo... you were fantastic

US President Donald Trump on Monday extended his gratitude to President Rodrigo Duterte for the latter’s “incredible hospitality” in hosting world  leaders for the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and related meetings.

During the 5th ASEAN-US Summit to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the ASEAN-US dialogue relations, Trump commended Duterte, whom he referred to by the president’s first name.

“Rodrigo, I would like to commend you on your success as ASEAN chair. At this very critical moment in time and in the association’s history, such an important event; and I wanna thank you for your incredible hospitality,” Trump said.

“And the show last night, the talent at that show, I assume mostly from the Philippines was fantastic, thank you. And you were fantastic,” he said.

Trump and Duterte met earlier in the day for a bilateral meeting, wherein the US President mentioned his “great relationship” with Duterte.

Meanwhile, Trump also congratulated the ASEAN on its 50th year in “promoting peace, prosperity, and stability” in Southeast Asia as well as in the broader Indo-Pacific region.

Duterte meanwhile said it is the ASEAN and the US’ “shared interests” to keep its ties “close.”

“It is our shared interests to keep our ASEAN-US engagement close and to ensure that our strategic partnership deliver the best results for our peoples,” Duterte said. —NB, GMA News