ASEAN concludes 30th Summit in Manila

During his opening statement, President Duterte, who is also the ASEAN chair this year, highlighted the need to promote peace, stability, security, and prosperity in the region; push for a drug-free ASEAN; build the capacity of micro, small, and medium enterprises; and mutual respect for independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, national identity, and non-interference in the internal affairs of one another. (Photo: ASEAN 2017/ Facebook)

The day started with President Rodrigo Duterte and partner Honeylet Avanceña welcoming the leaders of ASEAN member states at the Philippine International Convention Center Saturday morning for the opening of the summit.

During his opening statement, President Duterte, who is also the ASEAN chair this year, highlighted the need to promote peace, stability, security, and prosperity in the region; push for a drug-free ASEAN; build the capacity of micro, small, and medium enterprises; and mutual respect for independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, national identity, and non-interference in the internal affairs of one another.

The ASEAN leaders continued to their plenary session afterwards.

The 10 heads of states signed and adopted the Declaration on the Role of the Civil Service as A Catalyst for Achieving ASEAN Community Vision 2025 during the 30th ASEAN Summit.

President Duterte likewise emphasized the role of civil service to ensure good governance in the region.

The leaders also had interface with the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) and the ASEAN Youth.

In a press conference, President Duterte said the ASEAN leaders had “a productive and fruitful deliberation”, and the country’s hosting of this summit was “undoubtedly significant”.

Meanwhile, the 12th Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines—East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Summit and the 10th Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand—Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) Summit also concluded during the day.

Prior to the summit, preparatory meetings were held in Manila since April 26.

The Philippines also hosted a gala dinner for participants of the summit and related meetings.

The 30th ASEAN Summit was attended by President Duterte, Brunei Darussalam Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Lao PDR Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong,, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, and Vietnam Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

The heads of state will meet again in November also in Manila for another summit.

The Philippines hosting of this year’s summit marks the 50th anniversary of ASEAN.