PHNOM PENH: The Philippines will lobby for the holding of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) leaders’ forum once a year instead of the usual April and November meetings.
Ambassador Noe Wong said Manila would push for the review of the Asean charter to make the summit a single annual event.
President Aquino had said that if he could have his way, he would prefer to attend only one Asean summit per year.
“Do we really need two summits a year?” he told Manila-based reporters in an interview at Sofitel Hotel, where he was billeted.
Aquino said Asean foreign and defence ministers have also been holding meetings four times a year, which is time-consuming, considering their other domestic tasks.
Other organisations like the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summits are held yearly. “The whole calendar is devoted to meeting the obligations for the region,” he pointed out.
Aquino is expected to arrive in Phnom Penh yesterday night. The summit begins today until November 20.
Last April 3 and 4, the President also attended the 20th Asean Summit held in the Cambodian capital.
Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez, spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs, said there are over a thousand Asean meetings a year, including the technical working groups.
The Philippine Star
