Duterte, other leaders to discuss COVID-19 in 'online' ASEAN Summit

Southeast Asian leaders will have an online meeting on Friday to discuss developments in the fight against COVID-19 and regional issues including the South China Sea dispute, Malacañang said Thursday.

Chief of Presidential Protocol Robert Borje said President Rodrigo Duterte would participate in the meeting via teleconference with nine other leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

“President Duterte and his ASEAN counterparts will review current initiatives and explore new avenues for enhanced cooperation to strengthen the region’s capacity to address the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Borje, who is also the Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs.

“Their discussions will build on the agreements adopted during the Special ASEAN Summit on COVID-19 held last April, seeking ways to facilitate the ASEAN region’s transition to the ‘new normal’ and post-pandemic recovery.”

International and regional issues, including maritime security developments such as the  South China Sea dispute, would also be discussed at the 36th ASEAN Summit, Borje said.

“The President has always been very clear on the country’s position on the developments from the South China Sea and what the objectives are, including the finalization of the code of conduct, final and substantive code of conduct for the South China Sea,” he said.

The leaders will have an opportunity to interact with parliamentarians, youth representatives, and business leaders from all over ASEAN.

A special session will also be held to mark the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action on the rights of women and gender equality.

Borje said the countries are expected to adopt more than 10 outcome documents on key areas of cooperation, such as food security and supply chain connectivity in the context of pandemic response, countering radicalization and violent extremism, and human resource development.

Duterte will be joined in the meeting by some members of his Cabinet including Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez and Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rolando Bautista.

Vietnam holds the chairmanship of ASEAN this year. -NB, GMA News