21 leaders to attend ASEAN Summit in November

Some 21 heads of state and government will attend the ASEAN Summit to be held in the Philippines next month, the head of the national organizing council announced Tuesday.

The list of attendees also include United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, according to Ambassador Marciano Paynor, director general for operations of the ASEAN 2017 National Organizing Council.

“We will have a total of 21 heads of state, heads of government, plus the Secretary General of the United Nations. Thus far, we have not had any indication of anyone not coming,” Paynor said in a media briefing.

According to Paynor, those expected to attend are leaders of the 10 Asean member states, eight members of the East Asia Summit, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Paynor also said that there are at least four requests to have bilateral talks with President Rodrigo Duterte.

Paynor, however, said he could not disclose whether a bilateral meeting will be held between Duterte and US President Donald Trump.

A Russian diplomat was earlier reported as saying Russian President Vladimir Putin will likely skip the ASEAN leaders meeting. 

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano previously said European Council President Donald Tusk was earlier invited by Duterte to attend the summit. — MDM, GMA News