President Duterte now in Thailand for 3-day official visit

(Eagle News) – After his two-day visit to Myanmar, President Duterte is now in Thailand for his three-day official visit, thus completing his tour of the nine other member-countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as the Philippines takes the ASEAN chairmanship this year.

The 71-year-old Philippine leader arrived at the Royal Thai Airforce Military Air Terminal 2 on Tuesday dawn, March 21, (11:47 p.m. Monday, March 20 Philippine time), accompanied by members of his Cabinet and some lawmakers.

Among the presidential delegation are Acting Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Isidro Lapeña, Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Vicente Sotto III and Philippine Ambassador to Thailand Mary Jo Aragon.

Mr. Duterte will be in Thailand for three days and is expected to witness the signing of three bilateral agreements on science and technology, tourism and agriculture.

He is also scheduled to meet with some 2,000 members of the Filipino community in Thailand.

Another important even is his bilateral meeting with Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha where they will discuss issues of mutual concerns in defense cooperation, energy, agriculture, education, economy and politics.

The President first visited Bangkok, Thailand last November to condole with the Thai people on the death of the country’s late beloved King Bhumibol.