Duterte arrives in Bali for ASEAN Leaders’ Gathering

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday night arrived in the Indonesian resort island of Bali for a meeting with fellow Southeast Asian leaders and global organizations aimed at increasing cooperation on the issue of sustainable development.

The plane carrying Duterte touched down at the Ngura Rai International Airport at 9:09 p.m., according to Malacañang.

He was welcomed at the airport by Indonesian Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita, Indonesian Ambassador to the Philippines Sinyo Sarundajang, Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Leehiong Wee and Ambassador Elizabeth Buensuceso, Permanent Representative to the Philippine Mission to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Duterte only has a small delegation to the one-day ASEAN Leaders’ Gathering slated for Thursday.

They include Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, the gathering will feature a two-and-a-half hour meeting between ASEAN leaders, United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim, and ASEAN Secretary General Dato Lim Jock Hoi.

Set to be discussed during the meeting are issues related to building synergy in strengthening financial stability in the region and accelerating economic development and regional integration as well as exploring potential collaboration to achieve development goals.

Duterte will discuss the Philippines’ progress in achieving the UN’s sustainable development goals, urge all parties to strengthen support for micro small and medium enterprises development and call for economic resilience amid prevailing global economic uncertainties, the DFA said.

He will also have bilateral meetings with at least three ASEAN leaders including Indonesian President Joko Widodo on the sidelines of the event. — BM, GMA News