#ASEAN: Philippine President Arrives For 26th ASEAN Summit

SEPANG, April 26 (Bernama) -- Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III arrived at the KL International Airport (KLIA) here Sunday for the 26th ASEAN Summit themed "Our People, Our Community, Our Vision."

He was greeted upon arrival by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Paul Low Seng Kuan.

The president was given a red carpet welcome and walked past a guard of honour mounted by the Sixth Royal Ranger Regiment led by Capt Mohd Azwan Arif Mohd Azahari.

Manila is expected to raise the territorial dispute issue in the South China Sea.

Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia J. Eduardo Malaya, in a recent interview with Bernama, said that ASEAN countries should take a common stand in addressing the maritime territorial overlapping claims in the South China Sea.

International media had reported that construction work was booming in the South China Sea in an area whose sovereignty is disputed by six parties, namely China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei.

Aquino was also reported to have urged ASEAN leaders to issue a collective statement denouncing China's reclamation in the disputed waters.

Malaysia's vision as the Chair of ASEAN, which it assumed on Jan 1, is to create a people-focused ASEAN involving all sectors of the community.

Established on Aug 8, 1967, ASEAN comprises Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

Meanwhile, Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha was greeted upon arrival by Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Aziz Kaprawi.

Accompanied by his wife, Naraporn Chan-o-cha, Prayut, who arrived on a Royal Thai Air Force aircraft, was given a red carpet welcome.

Thailand, among other things, would highlight the importance of building a people-centred, rules-based, and inclusive ASEAN Community, promote the importance of connectivity in all dimensions and ASEAN centrality in the regional architecture.

The country would stress on the need for cooperation on security and addressing non-traditional security challenges, as well as the role of Thailand as coordinator for ASEAN-China relations.

-- BERNAMA

http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/asean-philippine-president-arrives-for-26th-asean-summit/