President Duterte addresses his fellow ASEAN leaders in Indonesia

BALI, Indonesia - President Rodrigo Roa Duterte addresses his fellow Heads of State/Government in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders' Gathering at the Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort in Bali, Indonesia on Thursday, October 11, 2018.

India Prime Minister Modi extols President Duterte's visit to India

India Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his deep appreciation for President Rodrigo Roa Duterte's acceptance to visit India for the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit, an Indian top official said Thursday, January 25, 2018.

At a press briefing, India Ministry of External Affairs Secretary Preeti Saran described the bilateral meeting between President Duterte and Prime Minister Modi as "very cordial." 

Saran said the Prime Minister conveyed his deep gratitude to the President for pushing through with his trip despite having domestic problems back home particularly the Mayon volcano eruption.

"Our Prime Minister conveyed his deep appreciation to President Duterte.  He was aware of the risk of Mayon Volcano that has erupted which is naturally a cause of concern," said Saran.

"And in fact because of that, President Duterte had to delay his flight because he needs to attend to issues related to assuring safety and whichever arrangements that they need back home," she added.

She said Prime Minister Modi appreciated the fact that President Duterte still brought along a high-level delegation including his Cabinet officials in his trip "underlining the importance that he personally attached to this visit."

"That gesture was deeply appreciated by our Prime Minister and he conveyed his sincerest thanks to him for that," she added.

Saran said the two leaders discussed a wide range of issues of mutual interest during the bilateral meeting including combatting illicit drug trafficking, sharing of intelligence and countering terrorism such as urban terrorism.

She added that the two "shared concerns about the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction" citing linkages and international networks involved in such activities.

The Indian official said President Duterte also reiterated his deepest appreciation to Prime Minister for the assistance of $500,000 that was provided by India to resettlement of victims of Marawi siege.

She said Duterte likewise expressed interest and desire for greater cooperation with India in the pharmaceutical sector and agreed to form a joint technical working group to hold meetings as early as March.

She said the President also conveyed his appreciation for the role of the Indian community in various fields in the Philippines including economic, services sector and infrastructure.

US President Trump addresses delegates to 5th ASEAN-U.S. Summit to Commemorate the 40th ASEAN-U.S. Dialogue Relations

US President Donald Trump addresses the delegates to the 5th ASEAN-U.S. Summit to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the ASEAN-U.S. Dialogue Relations in Manila, Monday, November 13, 2017.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte formally opens the 31st ASEAN Summit at the Cultural Center of the Philippines

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, together with his counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states and dialogue partners, formally opens the 31st ASEAN Summit and Related Summits at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in Pasay City, Monday, November 13, 2017.

President Duterte leads the 31st Association of the Southeast Asian Nations Summit Plenary

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte leads the 31st Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit Plenary as this year's ASEAN Chair at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City on November 13, 2017.

The Summit, attended by the ASEAN 10 Member States and ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh, is set to tackle the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and The Way Forward, and the appointment of the new Secretary-General of ASEAN.  The ASEAN Leaders will also exchange views on regional and international issues.

In concluding the Summit, the leaders will also adopt/note outcome documents on relevant issues under the three community pillars of ASEAN: ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC), the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC).

Opening of the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (ABIS) 2017 at Solaire Resort in Paranaque City, Philippines

President Rodrigo Duterte delivers keynote address in APEC CEO Summit Session 7 at Da Nang City

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers a keynote address in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit Session 7 at the Ariyana Da Nang Exhibition and Convention Centre in Da Nang City, Vietnam Thursday, November 9, 2017.