Duterte, Trump look forward to first meeting in APEC Summit in Vietnam — DFA exec

VIETNAM — They have expressed mutual admiration for each other and have at least two phone calls between them, now President Rodrigo Duterte and US President Donald Trump will meet for the first time during the APEC Summit in Da Nang, Vietnam.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for International Economic Relations Manuel AJ Teehankee said the first opportunity for the two leaders’ interaction will be on November 10 when the 21 leaders of the APEC economies receive the report of the APEC Business Advisory Council.

“From what we’ve gathered, both Presidents are looking forward to personally meeting each other,” Teehankee said.

Duterte is scheduled to arrive here early evening of November 8, while Trump on November 10.

There is no formal bilateral meeting yet as of this time between the two leaders here in APEC, but such could happen in Manila during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in Manila on November 13.

Still, Teehankee is not precluding a chance pull aside between Trump and Duterte who will participate in several sessions during the summit.

“A fuller bilateral will be and more impressive in the ASEAN context, where of course, the President is the host country and host chair at the Gala dinner,” he said.

The meeting between Duterte and Trump would happen amid a changing political landscape in the Asia Pacific Region where the Philippine leader has declared a break from the United States and into the arms of emerging superpower China.

But the relationship between the United States and the Philippines is not something that both leaders could disregard.

“The Philippines and the United States are traditional and strong allies,” Teehankee said.

And it helps that they meet eye to eye on certain issues.

Trump, for example, had expressed support to Duterte’s drug war, something which the latter has crowed about in past speeches.

And during the APEC Summit, where the globalization is having a rethink , they might be on the same side of the fence with regard to the issue.

“…they both look at globalization with caution --- there is positive to globalization but there’s also negative that they --- that must be addressed,” Teehankee said.

Both leaders who enjoy public support in their respective countries may act to keep it that way.

“So they both, I think, speak to the importance of inclusive growth. Meaning, inclusive growth simply means that there are benefits for all citizens, especially those who are not feeling the benefits,” he added.

Duterte, meanwhile has a scheduled bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

It would be the third time that the two leaders would be meeting. The two first met during the APEC Summit in Peru last year.

The bilateral meeting would be an opportunity for the two leaders to continue their meeting during President Duterte’s official visit to Moscow this May which was cut short by the Marawi crisis and the consequent declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao.

Duterte is also expected to thank Putin for his country’s donation of firearms and vehicles to the Armed Forces of the Philippines. — RSJ, GMA News