Philippines Set For ASEAN Summit, Beefs Up Security

Billboard to welcome ASEAN Summit and ASEAN’s 50th Anniversary.

Manila, 29 Rajab 1438/26 April 2017 MINA) – The Philippines is all set to host the 30th ASEAN Summit, the first of the top leaders-level summit it will host in 2017, which also marks the 10-member grouping’s 50th anniversary.

The summit themed, “Partnering for Change, Engaging The World,” would take place in the capital city of Manila from April 26 to 29 at the Phillipine International Convention Centre (PICC), Philstar reported.

This would the first international summit hosted by Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte after he assumed office in June 2016.

The regional grouping is expected to use the platform to forge greater cooperation among its member countries as the region moves forward, especially in its effort to integrate into a single market.

Others issues such as combating terrorism, political security and socio-culture are among the topics on the table for discussion.

“During the Philippines’ Chairmanship, we will highlight ASEAN as a role model of regionalism and a global player, with the interest of the people as its core,” Duterte said during the closing ceremony of the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits in Vientiane, Laos.

He said Manila would pursue initiatives and enhance cooperation with global partners to ensure ASEAN citizens lived in peace, stability and security.

“It will be an occasion for us to set the tone for the next 50 years,” he said.

The second ASEAN summit, will take place in November together with the grouping’s dialogue partners, Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Korea, Russia and the United States.

Beef up security

According to media reports, eight heads of state including Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Singapore Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Indonesian President Joko Widodo will participate in the summit.

Myanmar will be represented by its State Counselor, Aung San Suu Kyi.

The heads of state will start arriving from April 27.

The host country is not taking any chances in terms of security, as it is deploying among others, about 40,000 troops, 120 patrol cars and 45 air and naval assets.

There will also be a “no fly zone” and “no sail zone” implemented during the duration of the summit, Manila Times reported.

ASEAN 2017 is the third chairmanship for Philippines. The first was under the leadership of President Corazon Aquino in 1987. The most recent one was in 2007, under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)