(Eagle News) – President Rodrigo Duterte will be attending the ASEAN Leaders’ Gathering that will be held in Bali, Indonesia on October 11, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
This was announced by Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for ASEAN Affairs Junever Mahilum-West on Monday, October 8 in a press briefing in Malacañang.
“Among the activities, the ASEAN leaders will have two major engagements. They will hold the ASEAN Leaders Gathering proper in the afternoon of October 11 which will be immediately followed by the ASEAN Leaders’ Gathering dinner in the evening,” Mahilum-West said.
The official said President Duterte will attend the event upon the invitation of Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
“The ASEAN leaders gathering will be held in Bali, Indonesia on 11th of October, 2018. The President will be attending the meeting at the invitation of Indonesian President
Joko Widodo.
“The gathering will discuss key issues related to using synergy in strengthening financial stability in the region and accelerating economic development and regional integration, as well as exploring potential collaboration to achieve development goals,” the DFA official explained.
She also said that President Duterte will highlight the “government’s efforts to improve its performance in achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs), urge all parties to strengthen support for micro, small and medium enterprises development” in the meeting.
It will be a two-hour informal roundtable discussion where participants will exchange views regarding the sustainable development goals and overcoming the development gap.
The ASEAN Leaders gathering is a sideline of the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund-World Bank Group (AM IMF-WBG) for this year, according to the ASEAN Legal Information portal.
Among the participants of the events are the Heads of state, Finance Ministers, Central Academics, Financial and Economic Actors, Practitioners, Academics and representative of non-government organizations.
The DFA is also preparing for a possible sideline meeting of President Duterte with President Widodo.