President Duterte is set to have a one-on-one meeting with his United States counterpart Donald J. Trump in November to strengthen what appears to be a love-and-hate relationship between the Philippines and the US, according to Manila’s top diplomat.
In a chance interview on Wednesday night, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano said his department is arranging a bilateral meeting between the President and Trump. Both leaders are scheduled to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) and Asean summits.
“The schedule of President Trump was just finalized recently. I was in Washington when certain consultations were done, and he did decide to go to both Apec and Asean [summits],” Cayetano said.
“So, having said all of that, there are now coordination where they [Duterte and Trump] are going to sit down and talk: whether it’s in Vietnam or here,” Cayetano added.
Vietnam is hosting this year’s Apec summit, while the Philippines is concluding its chairmanship of the Asean by hosting the region’s 31st convention.
Although “the schedules are still all very complicated,” Cayetano said he is certain the President and Trump are going to meet in November. “Definitely, we want it, they want it,” the top diplomat said. “I’m sure they’ll be able to speak because our relationship with the US is very important. [On top of that,] President Trump and President Duterte like each other.”
Asked what issues will the two leaders most likely discuss, Cayetano said human rights and Duterte’s war on drugs are certainly on top of the list, among other issues.