NAIA II, Pasay City
May 10, 2017
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte embarked on a six-day working trip to Cambodia, Hong Kong and China to attend a series of meetings and events.
Along with his Philippine delegation, President Duterte is set to participate at the World Economic Forum (WEF) on ASEAN 2017 in Cambodia, meet with the Filipino community in Hong Kong, and attend the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, China from May 10-16, 2017.
The President said he will meet with his counterparts in the Southeast Asian region during the WEF on Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 2017. He mentioned that he will highlight the accomplishments and developments of the 30th ASEAN Summit in Manila last month, as well as underscoring how government, together with the private sector, can achieve its shared goals for the region.
“We will have the opportunity to engage the larger region to discuss the common vision for Southeast Asia and our peoples. We will share our perspectives on what still needs to be done and how we are going to achieve them as on united ASEAN region,” he said.
Likewise, President Duterte will visit Hong Kong to meet hundreds of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) working and living in the said country. During the meet and greet, the President mentioned that he will let the OFWs know what the government is doing and what they can do to become productive partners for change.
Moreover, the President said he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing after his visit to Hong Kong. During the forum, he and other leaders will explore opportunities in terms of infrastructures, trade and economic cooperation, energy development, financial cooperation, eco-environment initiatives, and people-to-people exchanges. President Duterte said he will use the forum to advance Philippine development goals.
“I am eager to engage my counterparts to establish stronger ties of amity with more countries in the Asia Pacific. In my engagements, I shall observe and expect full respect for sovereign equality,” he said.
He added, “Only by doing so we will be able to advance our national interests and collectively push with our partners’ efforts for sustained growth, security and stability in the region.”
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