In a statement released by Malacañang on November 20, Duterte will join his ASEAN counterparts upon the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, to take stock of the achievements of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations over the past three decades and chart the future of the partnership for the next 30 years.
The Palace said the Special Summit will be co-chaired by President Xi and Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam, the ASEAN Chair for 2021.
Duterte is expected to articulate Philippine positions on key areas of cooperation and regional issues during the summit.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr., Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, Senator Christopher Lawrence Go, Presidential Assistant for Foreign Affairs Robert E.A. Borje and Social Welfare Undersecretary Luzviminda Ilagan are expected to join the President.
The China and the ASEAN have forged the largest trading partnership, the most substantial cooperation partnership and the most dynamic strategic partnership, since establishing the dialogue relationship in 1991.
Both sides built the biggest free-trade zone among developing countries with bilateral trade volume increasing 85 fold over the past 30 years.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte (File photo from Presidential Communications)