SINGAPORE — President Rodrigo Roa Duterte joined other heads of state and government on Tuesday, November 13, during the opening ceremony and plenary of the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits.
The President arrived at 5:22 p.m. at the Suntec Convention and Exhibition Centre, where he was welcomed by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his wife.
The Chief Executive, along with other heads of ASEAN member countries, then proceeded to Hall 403 for the opening ceremony.
The Prime Minister of Singapore then hosted a working dinner for the leaders of ASEAN.
Meanwhile, the ASEAN Summit Plenary started after the working dinner.
The summit, President Duterte said, would be an opportunity for him and other ASEAN leaders to move ASEAN community-building forward and bring ASEAN closer to a rules-based, people-oriented, and people-centered ASEAN Community.
According to the President, the Philippines is looking forward to exchanging views on ASEAN community-building as well as discussions on regional and global developments that impact regional peace, security, and stability.
According to the Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Joseph Del Mar Yap, President Duterte’s presence at the summit “is really to show our support for both Singapore and Thailand.”
After the 33rd ASEAN Summit, Singapore will turn over the chairmanship to Thailand for the ASEAN 2019.
