MANILA – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) at 4:25 p.m. Sunday to attend the ASEAN-India and East Asia Summits.
Modi is also expected to participate at the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Leaders’ Meeting and the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit.
He was received at the airport by Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar.
In a Facebook post, Modi said that he was looking forward to his first bilateral meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte.
The Indian leader also announced a plan to visit the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Baños, Laguna and the Mahaveer Philippines Foundation Inc. (MPFI).
India is one of nine leaders of ASEAN’s dialogue partners who had earlier confirmed to attend the ASEAN events, which coincide with the regional bloc’s 50th founding anniversary. The other leaders of ASEAN dialogue partners are: Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Korean President Moon Jae-In, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and United States President Donald Trump.
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Gutierres and European Council President Donald Tusk will also participate in the summit.
The heads of state and government of the ASEAN members and the regional bloc’s dialogue partners will be feted at a gala dinner hosted by President Rodrigo Duterte Sunday night, to mark the 50th anniversary of ASEAN.- with a report by Camille Aguinaldo, InterAksyon