PH eyes 4 deals with South Korea during Duterte trip
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Fri, 22 Nov 2019 06:00:46 +0000
THE Philippines and South Korea are set to sign several agreements covering practical areas of cooperation during President Rodrigo Duterte’s upcoming visit next week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Friday.
In a pre-departure briefing in Malacañang, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Junever Mahilum-West said President Rodrigo Duterte and Korean President Moon Jae-in would witness the signing of the agreements following their bilateral meeting.
Mahilum-West, however, declined to reveal more information about the agreements to be signed since they were still being negotiated.
“The President is scheduled to have bilateral talks with President Moon Jae-in and we cannot divulge yet what will happen in the meeting. But we expect some agreements to be signed on certain areas of cooperation,” Mahilum-West said.
“We are eyeing and anticipating to sign agreements on education, tourism, social security and perhaps fisheries as well but as I’ve said, negotiations are still ongoing,” he added.
Mahilum-West said Duterte would have a “very hectic” schedule as he and his fellow Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) leaders were expected to discuss with Moon their partnership and cooperation on areas of mutual concern.
“There are many side events, as well as of the summit, to which the President and other Asean leaders are invited to go. So, I think the schedule is very hectic at the moment,” she said.
Duterte will fly to South Korea next week to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Republic of Korea (Asean-ROK) Commemorative Summit on November 25 and 26 in Busan.
The DFA official said there would be two sessions during the main summit, which will be held on November 26.
She said the first session would tackle 30 years of cooperation between Asean and South Korea while the second session would focus on their connectivity.
Asean and South Korea first established sectoral dialogue relations in November 1989.
Mahilum-West said Southeast Asian leaders and Moon would also discuss “most pressing” regional security issues, including the Korean Peninsula.
She said the commemorative summit and other side events between Asean and South Korea were expected to conclude with two outcome documents.
“And these documents are the Asean-ROK Joint Vision Statement for Peace, Prosperity, and Partnership and the Co-Chairs’ Statement on the Asean-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit and these two represent the strong partnership between the Asean and ROK,” she said.
Earlier this month, Duterte also met with other Southeast Asian leaders and President Moon during the Asean Summit in Bangkok, Thailand.
Duterte’s upcoming visit to South Korea will be his second since assuming office in 2016. It will also be his first time to visit Busan. He previously traveled to Seoul for an official visit in 2018.
Mahilum-West said Duterte would be accompanied by several Cabinet members, but deferred to the Office of the President to release the roster of the official Philippine delegation.
She, nevertheless, revealed that Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, and Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Bautista were among those who would be joining the President as members of the Philippine delegation.
The three Cabinet secretaries’ presence, Mahilum-West added, was necessary since the DFA, the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development served as lead agencies for the Asean’s political and security community pillar; economic pillar; and socio-cultural community pillar, respectively.
Mahilum-West said Duterte has no scheduled meeting with the Filipino community in South Korea, considering his tight schedule.
“At this visit, not yet because I think there are many side events as well of the summit to which the President and other Asean leaders are invited to go. So, I think the schedule is very hectic at the moment,” she said.
To date, there are 70,000 Filipinos working, studying, and residing in South Korea. CATHERINE S. VALENTE