Duterte, Xi discuss regional developments

Photo: Presidential Communications (Government of the Philippines)/ Facebook.com

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping have discussed regional developments and how some concerns could be addressed, signifying the importance of having peace and security in the region.

President Duterte received a phone call from President Xi Jinping on Wednesday.

“President Duterte shared Philippine positions on several salient issues, especially on developments in the Korean Peninsula, and he referred to China’s important role in promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement.

In his capacity as Chair of this year’s ASEAN, the DFA said President Duterte also spoke about how to further strengthen ties with ASEAN’s dialogue partners and shared the outcomes of the recently concluded successful ASEAN Summit.

ASEAN leaders expressed grave concern over recent developments in the Korean Peninsula, as they stressed the importance of exercising self-restraint in the interest of “maintaining peace, security and stability in the region and the world.”

President Duterte also told President Xi that ASEAN likewise discussed and agreed on measures to promote “ASEAN unity, centrality and solidarity” as well as ASEAN commitment to continue promoting peace and stability in the Asia Pacific region, the DFA added.