Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (Photo: AFP/VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Philippine PresidentRodrigo Duterte called on the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) to enhance economic integration to counter protectionism and globaltrade tensions while addressing the 35th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok, Thailand, onNovember 3.
He warned that protectionism and global tradetensions are undermining the development of the ASEAN economies, including thePhilippines.
The ASEAN needs an open and rules-based tradingsystem to sustain growth, he said, adding that the bloc should respect thesignificance and effectiveness of the World Trade Organisation.
He suggested accelerating deeper economicintegration through concrete programmes and projects such as the RegionalComprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
The President also called on the ASEAN to ensureenvironmental sustainability and protect biodiversity.
The ASEAN should not sacrifice the environmentand the region's rich biodiversity, particularly in the maritime domain, in itsquest for development progress, he said.
The ASEAN groups Brunei,Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore,Thailand and Vietnam.
The RCEP, initiated by ASEANin 2012, is a proposed regional free trade agreement between 10 ASEAN membernations and the bloc’s six trading partners - China, Japan, the Republic ofKorea, Australia, New Zealand and India./.
VNA
