PRRD, other leaders to strengthen region’s fight vs. Covid

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte gives his address as he joins other leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries during the special Asean Summit on Covid-19 video conference at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang on April 14, 2020. (Presidential photo)

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte and his Southeast Asian counterparts are expected explore new avenues for enhanced cooperation to strengthen the region’s capacity to address the challenges posed by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

Chief of Presidential Protocol and Presidential Assistant of Foreign Affairs Robert Borje said this will be the main agenda in the 36th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit, which will be held via video conference on Friday (June 26).

He said their discussions will build on the agreements adopted during the Special Asean Summit on Covid-19 held last April, seeking ways to facilitate the region’s transition to the “new normal” and post-pandemic recovery.

According to Borje, the leaders will also take stock of the progress of various community building initiatives under the three pillars of Asean – political-security, economic, and socio-cultural – and chart the way forward.

“They will exchange views on international and regional issues, including maritime security developments,” he said.

He said they will have an opportunity to interface with parliamentarians, youth representatives, and business leaders from all over Asean.

Meanwhile, he said a special session on “Women Empowerment in the Digital Age” will also be held to mark the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action on the rights of women and gender equality.

Earlier, Roque said Duterte will be attending at least six online Asean-related activities.

These activities include the 36th Asean Summit; Asean Leaders Special Session on Women’s Empowerment; Asean Leaders Interface with the Representatives of Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly; Asean Leaders Interface with Representatives of Asean Youth; Asean Leaders Interface with Representatives of Asean Business Advisory Council; and a press conference of Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, chairman of the 36th Asean Summit.

The summit is expected to adopt more than 10 outcome documents on key areas of cooperation, such as food security and supply chain connectivity in the context of pandemic response, countering radicalization and violent extremism, and human resource development, among others, he added.

Sea row

Borje, meanwhile, assured that Duterte will push for the country’s national interests at the summit.

He said the dispute in the South China Sea will also be in the summit’s agenda under regional and international developments.

Duterte, he added, will again underscore the importance of having a Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea.

“The President has always been very clear on the country’s position on the developments in the South China Sea including the finalization of the Code of Conduct for the South China Sea,” he said.

By wanting to fast-track the COC, Borje said Duterte has been “consistent” in his participation in Asean Summits.

He said Duterte will also push for the protection of migrant workers and peace, order, and security in the region.

Duterte will be joined by key members of his cabinet, including the Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, and Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Bautista covering the three pillars of the Asean Community.

This is the first regular Asean Summit to be convened via videoconference in view of the constraints posed by Covid-19.

Apart from the Philippines and Vietnam, other Asean members include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand.