EU invites Duterte to attend Asia-Europe Meeting in Brussels

The European Union (EU) has invited President Rodrigo Duterte to attend the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) to be held in October, EU Ambassador to the Philippines Franz Jessen said on Wednesday.

The invitation came amid the Philippine government's rejection of the €6.1 million or P380-million aid from the EU.

"We have sent the invitation to the Palace yesterday it was for the ASEAM in October," Jessen said in a phone interview.

"We haven't received a reply yet, I think they received it just today," he added.

The 12th ASEM Summit will be held on October 18 to 19 in Brussels, Belgium.

The ASEAM is an intergovernmental process established in 1996 "to foster dialogue and cooperation between Asia and Europe. "It is comprised of 53 partners - 30 European and 21 Asian countries.

President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly lambasted the EU for criticizing his war on drugs after thousands of killings have been blamed on the campaign. —NB, GMA News