FMJ to join ASEAN-Gulf summit in KSA
By Nidz Godino
"It will be very lean group, most of them working level of course, President and officials of Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of Trade…but, of course, it will also include support group of President but it's much, much smaller than previous months because trip is very short," Assistant Secretary Daniel Espiritu of the Department of Foreign Affairs' Office of ASEAN Affairs said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will participate in the first Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Oct. 20,2023, aimed at strengthening security, economic and socio-cultural cooperation between two regional organizations.
FMJ will be accompanied by "very lean" delegation, will depart Manila on Thursday, according to Espiritu.
While in Riyadh, FMJ is also expected to meet Filipino community and Saudi Arabian business leaders.
Among those who are joining FMJ in Riyadh are foreign affairs and trade officials.
One-day summit, will be held at Ritz Carlton Hotel, will focus on endorsement of framework of cooperation between ASEAN and GCC for 2024 and 2028, according to DFA official.
He said first ASEAN-GCC summit is important as it will set tone for forward movement of cooperation between two regional organizations.
Among areas of collaboration two regional organizations will discuss are counter-terrorism and transnational crime, anti-piracy as well as cooperation between GCC Chiefs of Police or GCCPOL and ASEAN Chiefs of Police or ASEANAPOL.
Founded in 1981, GCC is composed of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait.
Espiritu said there are around 2.2 million Filipinos in GCC member-countries.
He added FMJ would also attend roundtable meeting with Arab business leaders and Ministry of Investments of Saudi Arabia, details of which are still being finalized.
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