November 25, 2021

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte joined his fellow Leaders in the Opening Session of the 13th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM13) Summit via virtual convention on November 25, 2021.

This year’s ASEM carried the theme, ‘Strengthening Multilateralism for Shared Growth’, and is chaired by Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo HUN SEN, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

Due to the ongoing risks posed by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the ASEM13 Summit was rescheduled to 25-26 November 2021 after Cambodia hosted the Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) Retreat on 1-2 March 2021.

ASEM is an intergovernmental process established in 1996 to foster dialogue and cooperation between Asia and Europe. Today, ASEM comprises 53 partners: 30 European and 21 Asian countries, the European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretariat.

The Summit’s first-day agenda included the Session with Stakeholders where Representatives from ASEM13 side events delivered their respective statements, and the First Plenary Session: ASEM’s Role in Promoting Multilateralism in which several ASEM Leaders delivered their interventions on promoting inclusive growth and development though cooperation and multilateralism between Asia and Europe.

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