After Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, who’s
next?
Fresh from the successful official
visit in Japan, the President is set to meet another world leader none other
than the President of the United States of America Donald Trump. Department of
Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano confirmed that President
Rodrigo Roa Duterte and US president Donald Trump will hold a bilateral meeting
this November in the country.
Trump has confirmed his attendance in
the Philippines hosting of the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) Summit and Related Meetings in Clark, Pampanga, which will be on
November 12 and 13. *
 |
| Pres. Duterte and US Pres. Trump ( photo credit to owner) |
"There's a possibility that we will explore bilateral
agreement," Cayetano said Wednesday at the turnover ceremony of Russian
military equipment to the Philippines. "How to better trade between the
two countries, how to get more Filipino goods into the U.S. and how to also
support the U.S. economy by us contributing also."
Cayetano said the bilateral talks will also likely tackle
the administration's "Build, Build, Build" infrastructure program, as
well as economic cooperation and security.
However, Secretary Cayetano
said Pres. Trump will not be able to
join the ASEAN-East Asia Summit (EAS) scheduled on November 14.
The ASEAN-EAS includes the 10 ASEAN Member States along with
Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea and the United
States.
"The decision was really that he will be here on the 12
and the 13th," Cayetano said. "Kung tuloy na 14 yung EAS, he cannot
extend another day because mahaba na yung trip niya."
Even if Pres. Trump is skipping the EAS, Cayetano said the
bilateral meeting should be considered as a "strong message of friendship
and cooperation" from the U.S.
Cayetano said Trump's schedule is packed with trips to other
Asian countries and visits related to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC).
The White House had said Trump's visits to countries it
considers allies and partners will highlight North Korea's repeated threats to
launch a nuclear attack.
Report from CNNPhils
0 comments