Reception Hall, Malacañan Palace
October 26, 2021

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte joined his fellow Leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for the Opening Ceremony of the 38th ASEAN Summit via virtual convention.

As the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to affect Southeast Asia, the ASEAN Leaders exchanged views on several matters such as the recovery efforts and responses to contain the effects of the pandemic across the region, the ASEAN Community Building initiatives, and regional and international developments, among others. The Leaders adopted more than 20 outcome documents relative to various key issues of concern and cooperation.

The ASEAN Leaders called on the revitalization of the regional bloc’s economy while giving prompt importance to the health and safety in the region amid the COVID-19 pandemic. All Leaders pushed for the equitable access of all ASEAN countries to vaccines in order to curb infections and deaths.

Furthermore, the Leaders urged to adopt the ASEAN Travel Corridor Arrangement Framework for the safe resumption of essential travel among Southeast Asian peoples that would also contribute towards economic recovery.

Chaired by Brunei Darussalam, this year’s 38th ASEAN Summit centered on the theme, ‘We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper.’ Due to the ongoing public health emergency in Southeast Asia, all meetings relative to the ASEAN Summit were held via virtual convention.

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