Duterte-Trump bilateral meeting set next week in Manila

The Philippines and the United States remain the best of friends, President Duterte declared ahead of his first encounter with US President Donald Trump during a regional summit in Vietnam.

The President recognized that the United States has provided support for the Philippines “for the longest time,” including its most recent equipment aid to resolve the terror siege in Marawi City.

“I’m not saying this with contempt. We remain to be the best of friends with America,” Duterte said at the 67th anniversary of the Philippine Marines in Taguig Tuesday night.

“Most of you, pagkatapos niyan or some of you went to schooling in America, and I do not blame you if your sentiments really remain with the power who helped us for the longest time,” he told the Filipino troops.

Duterte also used the occasion to express gratitude to countries like the United States for helping the government liberate Marawi from terrorist influence.

“Out of gratitude, of course, the United States for rendering us the equipment. China, for giving us the arms, also the Soviet Union, si President (Vladimir) Putin, also contributed and may… Israel. And the others who lent us the equipment that needed really to win the war,” he said.

According to Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Manuel Teehankee, Duterte and Trump will have a chance to meet for the first time when they attend a dialogue with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)-Business Advisory Council (BAC) on Friday.

The two leaders are among the 21 Asia-Pacific leaders who will participate in the annual regional talks in Da Nang City, a popular resort town in Vietnam. Duterte is expected to arrive in Vietnam on Wednesday while Trump will be in Da Nang on Friday.

“They will first have the first interaction when they, as APEC leaders, will receive on November 10 the APEC Business Advisory Council report to leaders. That’s in the afternoon of November 10,” Teehankee told Filipino reporters here.

Bilateral meetings

Teehankee said a pull-aside meeting between Duterte and Trump on the APEC sidelines was still likely even though their formal bilateral meeting will be held in Manila next week.

But President Duterte is expected to hold bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, November 10, on efforts to further enhance bilateral economic and security relations, Teehankee added.

“It will be an opportunity for them to resume their discussions, as well as to express thanks for the commitment and aid of Russia in the Marawi crisis,” Teehankee said during a press conference ahead of the APEC economic leaders’ summit here.

Teehankee said the two leaders are also expected to discuss “the important factor of economic cooperation, which is the highlight of APEC and the increased potential of economics, business and trade and investment between Russia and the Philippines.”

The last time Duterte and Putin met was during the Philippine leader’s shortened visit to Moscow last May.

Apart from Russia, Duterte is expected to grab the opportunity to hold bilateral meetings with the leaders of Vietnam and Papua New Guinea during the regional summit, Teehankee said.

The President’s meeting with Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang will take place after his keynote address before the APEC CEO summit on Thursday.

Teehankee also cited the “important” dialogue between the President and Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill on Friday on the APEC sidelines.

The President’s possible meetings with the leaders of China, Chile, and Hong Kong are also being arranged before he wraps up his visit to Vietnam.

Trump to ASEAN Summit

After the APEC Summit here, Trump will travel to the Philippines to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and related meetings from November 12 to 14.

“There will be surely opportunity because of the interaction during the… at the holding rooms, the VIP rooms and both… what we have gathered, both Presidents are looking very much forward to personally meeting each other,” Teehankee said.

The highly anticipated Duterte-Trump encounter comes after recent two phone conversation expressing mutual respect and support since their historic elections last year.

Teehankee maintained that the relations between the Philippines and the United States remain strong.

“The Philippines and the United States are traditional and strong allies and they represent the aspirations and ambitions of both the American and Philippine peoples,” he said.

He said both leaders agree on the importance of inclusive growth wherein economic gains are felt by all people.

“Both Presidents are committed to the welfare, economic well being of their citizens, they both look at globalization with caution – there is positive to globalization but there’s also negative that they – that must be addressed,” he said.

“They both, I think, speak to the importance of inclusive growth. Meaning, inclusive growth simply means that there are benefits for all citizens, especially those who are not feeling the benefits and those who need to garner more, a fair share of the global economy, as well as of their domestic economy,” he added.

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Genalyn D. Kabiling

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