East Asian leaders leave Manila Wednesday

South Korean President Moon Jae-in listens to the discussion during the 12th East Asia Summit at the Philippine International Convention Center on November 14, 2017. KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Moon Jaen-in have departed from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Wednesday.

Abe and Moon were among the last world leaders that left Manila Wednesday as the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits concluded Tuesday evening.

Both East Asian leaders left the tarmac before noontime.

On the sidelines of the summit, Abe and President Rodrigo Duterte witnessed the signing of diplomatic notes of the two countries, involving loan agreement for infrastructure projects that include Metro Manila’s first subway.

The Prime Minister’s trip to the Philippines for ASEAN Summit was his fourth visit in the country since 2013.

Meanwhile, the attendance of Moon to the ASEAN Summit was his first Southeast Asian tour since he was sworn into office last May.

During the 19th ASEAN-Republic of Korea Summit on Monday, Moon said he wanted to bring ties with ASEAN to “new heights”.

In the same event, Moon did not bring up the issue in the Korean Peninsula despite the issue being a hot topic in ASEAN meetings in the past months.

Meanwhile, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is scheduled to fly back home on Thursday.

Li still has a bilateral meeting with President Duterte today at Malacañang Palace.