Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano is set to discuss President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign against criminality and illegal drugs during the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Philippine Permanent Representative Teodoro Locsin Jr. said Cayetano, who arrived in Washington on Sunday, will also share with other UN member-states the efforts being undertaken by the Philippine government to protect the rights and promote the welfare of Filipino migrant workers, the threats of the Islamic State and the continuing missile test launches and detonations by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
The 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly formally opens in New York on Tuesday with Cayetano representing President Rodrigo Duterte in the annual event that brings together leaders from all over the world.
Cayetano will address the General Assembly on Saturday to deliver President Duterte’s message for the international community to unite against terrorism, nuclear weapons and other common threats.
The DFA said Cayetano’s participation in this year’s UN General Assembly Session is his first appearance in the world stage since he assumed office as secretary of Foreign Affairs in June.
In addition to attending various events at the UN Headquarters, Locsin said the secretary will also have bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Belgium, Colombia, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Morocco, Norway, Poland, the United Arab Emirates and the Vatican.
Locsin said Cayetano will also attend the 4th ASEAN Pacific Alliance Foreign Ministers Meeting; the 41st Annual Meeting for Foreign Ministers of the Group of 77; and the ASEAN-Mercosur Foreign Ministers Meeting.
The Secretary will also host an informal ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting and attend the group’s meeting with the President of the 72nd UN General assembly and the UN Secretary General.
Consul General Maria Theresa De Vega of the Philippine Consulate General in New York said Cayetano will also speak before the Asia Society and will be meeting with members of the Filipino Community.