Trade, terrorism on agenda of Duterte-Jokowi meeting in Bali

President Rodrigo Duterte and his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo will discuss trade and fighting terrorism on the sidelines of the ASEAN Leaders' Gathering in Bali on Thursday, an official said.

Duterte is due to arrive late Wednesday night in the Indonesian resort island. 

"There are various issues of Indonesia and the Philippines. The trade issue is one of them, the terrorism, the wide Celebes Sea which has always been a problem. Although, we have done a lot of things to improve that," Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Leehiong Tan Wee told reporters in Bali.

"I think those are the issues that are foremost in the mind of the two Presidents."

Manila and Jakarta last year started joint patrols in the Celebes Sea aimed at strengthening border security especially against Islamist militants.

"We have been talking with Indonesia in many forums to help us develop the peace and order in the Philippines especially southern part of the Philippines and also the border between the seas -- the Celebes Sea," Wee said.

Wee, meanwhile, disclosed the plan to revive an old air route between Davao and Manado, capital of Indonesia’s North Sulawesi province.

"Probably within the year or early next year there will be an air routes that will come from Davao to Manado. And there’s a fastfood company in the Philippines that will also open up in Jakarta," he said.

Duterte and Widodo last met during the 32nd ASEAN Summit last April in Singapore.

Both had a pull aside meeting where they reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen ties on issues of mutual importance including security, stability and sustainable development, according to Malacañang. —NB/BM, GMA News