Trudeau to attend ASEAN summit in Manila

FILE: Trudeau’s last visit in the Philippines was in November 2015 when he attended the Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ meeting hosted by the Aquino administration. (Photo: Justin Trudeau/Facebook)

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano confirmed on Thursday the attendance of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Manila.

“Yes, we’re expecting Trudeau,” Cayetano said in an interview with the reporters.

President Rodrigo Duterte on August has extended an invitation to Trudeau to attend the summit on November as a guest of chair.

“The Philippines also announced the invitation issued by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to attend the Summit in November as a guest of the Chair,” Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Robespierre L. Bolivar said.

Trudeau may participate in the ASEAN-Canada 40th anniversary commemorative summit on November 14.

Trudeau’s last visit in the Philippines was in November 2015 when he attended the Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ meeting hosted by the Aquino administration.

The Philippines’ top diplomat said that United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is expected to attend the conference.

However, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin might miss the assembly as they will join in the APEC meetings in Vietnam.

“President Xi Jinping will be in APEC while Premier Li will be here. I think President Putin will be in APEC and then Prime Minister Medvedev,” Cayetano said.

Heads of state from ASEAN member-states and the United States, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand are anticipated to attend the summit.

The European Union was also invited as a guest of chair.

The final list of the world leaders who are expected to attend the summit has yet to be released by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).