ADDRESSING terrorism and exploring the economic possibilities with the Philippines’ neighbors will be President Rodrigo Duterte’s focus in his first foreign trip as head of state to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Malacañang said Wednesday.
“Part of it is the security agreements which have been raised in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines’ [tripartite talks],” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said.
He made the statement even as President Rodrigo Duterte said the Philippines’ row with China over the West Philippine Sea will not be raised in any of his foreign trips this month and in September.
“I won’t talk with the Asean about the West Philippine Sea issue. I will only talk directly to China when I face them,” Duterte told reporters at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
“War is not an option.”
Duterte made his statement even as China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations approved two documents on handling unplanned encounters and emergencies in the disputed waters, Chinese media reported Wednesday.
The two documents envision the establishment of a hot line for senior officials to enable them to respond to emergency situations in the South China Sea.
Abella said Malaysia aside, Duterte will also visit Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore on Aug. 23 to 30.
“We’re also preparing our leadership when we tale over Asean. That’s part of the preparation, and after Laos we’ll be taking over,” he said.
Also to be discussed at the Asean meetings is how to revitalize the BIMP-EAGA Growth Area consisting of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, a subregional economic cooperation initiative founded in Davao City.
The key sectors benefiting from the trade agreement are agriculture and industry, fisheries, tourism, transportation,shipping and energy.
Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go earlier confirmed that Duterte will visit Laos on Sept. 6 to 8 for the turnover of the chairmanship of the Asean.
In his visit to Malaysia, Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza said Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak had proposed the creation of sea lanes in the common borders of Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia amid the rising terror threats in the sea borders.