Duterte joins virtual ASEAN Summit on COVID-19

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte joined other Southeast Asian leaders in a virtual 36th ASEAN Summit on Friday, June 26.

The summit focused primarily on the coronavirus pandemic and regional issues such as the South China Sea dispute.

Duterte participated from Malacañang while Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc presided over the meeting.

ASEAN Secretary General Dato Lim Jock Hoi highlighted the need for collaborative efforts in information sharing related to medical development and domestic policies amid the pandemic.

The summit also aimed to adopt more than 10 outcome documents on key areas of cooperation, including food security, supply chain connectivity, countering radicalization, and human resource development.