Reception Hall, Malacañan Palace
October 26, 2021

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, together with his fellow Leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), participated in the Opening Ceremony of the 39th ASEAN Summit via virtual convention.

Amid the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that continues to impact the Southeast Asian region, the ASEAN Leaders recognized several issues of concern that need urgent attention, including regional stability and peace.

One of the discussions in the 39th ASEAN Summit was the ongoing coup crisis in Myanmar, where ASEAN Leaders affirmed their strong support to help and assist the country in resolving the conflict through peaceful settlement. The ASEAN Leaders also urged the regional community for a diplomatic resolution on the current issue regarding the West Philippine Sea and insisted that the disputes should be resolved in accordance with the existing laws including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS).

Further, the ASEAN Leaders vowed to uphold inclusivity among Member-States while respecting each other’s differences towards a more diverse partnership in the ASEAN region.

Chaired by Brunei Darussalam, this year’s 39th 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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