IN PHOTOS: How Duterte bonded with ASEAN leaders
BONDING. President Rodrigo Duterte embraces Thailand Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-chan after the state dinner. Photo by Simeon Celi/Presidential Photo
MANILA, Philippines – On Saturday, April 29, President Rodrigo Duterte will officially welcome 9 other Southeast Asian leaders to the first international summit he will host: the 30th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings.
For Duterte, it will be a meeting with familiar faces since he has spent several days from September 2016 to March 2017 visiting each ASEAN country.
He has sung a duet with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, gone shopping with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, and indulged in a nasi lemak lunch with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
He has given roses to Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and received a birthday surprise from Thailand Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha.
These light moments were enjoyed between serious ones – bilateral meetings in royal palaces and government houses, formal signing ceremonies, and awe-inducing military honors.
At the end of his ASEAN tour, Duterte begins his ASEAN 2017 chairmanship armed with the knowledge of the issues dearest to the hearts of his fellow leaders, and fond memories of his moments with them.
LAOS, September 6 to 8, 2016 | Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith
Duterte made his international debut at the ASEAN Summit held in Laos. There, he was welcomed by summit host Laos. Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith.
HOST TO FUTURE HOST. President Duterte shakes hands with Laos Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith. All photos from PCOO
TOAST TO SUCCESS. President Duterte accepts a toast from Laotian Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith during a welcome dinner at Don Chan Palace Hotel in Vientiane, Laos on September 6
INDONESIA, September 8 to 9, 2016 | President Joko Widodo
Amid meetings at the palatial Istana Merdeka in Jakarta, Indonesia's capital, Duterte and President Joko Widodo went window-shopping at a local mall. Donning batik shirts, the two toasted to each other during a state dinner.
SHOPPING PARTNERS. President Rodrigo Duterte is toured by Indonesian President Joko Widodo in a mall in Jakarta on September 9
MEETING. President Rodrigo Duterte meets with Indonesian President Joko Widodo at Istana Merdeka in Jakarta on September 9
PARTNERSHIP. President Rodrigo Duterte accepts a toast from Indonesian President Joko Widodo during a state banquet at Istana Negara in Jakarta on September 9
DRIVER. President Rodrigo Duterte is driven around by Indonesian President Joko Widodo going to Istana Negara in Jakarta on September 9
VIETNAM, September 28 to 29, 2016 | President Tran Dai Quang and Prime Minsiter Nguyen Xuan Phuc
Duterte's first visit to a communist country was in Vietnam. There, he exchanged views with President Tran Dai Quang and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
MILITARY HONORS. Vietnamese honor guards line up outside the State Palace in Hanoi on September 29, 2016
ASEAN LEADERS. President Rodrigo Duterte, accompanied by Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang, walks past the honor guards
AFFIRMING TIES. President Rodrigo Duterte shakes hands with Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang at the State Palace in Hanoi on September 29, 2016
VIETNAM PM. President Rodrigo Duterte is welcomed by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc during a courtesy call
EXPANDED BILATERAL MEETING. President Rodrigo Duterte, accompanied by his official delegation, meets with Vietnamese officials led by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc
BRUNEI, October 16 to 18, 2016 | Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah
Duterte had to be extra careful about protocol and manners during his meeting with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the first royal he met during his presidency.
SULTAN'S FRIENDSHIP. Sultan Bolkiah of Brunei is the first royal President Duterte meets as president. Photo from Brunei Informations Department
THAILAND, November 9, 2016 and March 20 to 22, 2017 | Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha
In November, Duterte visited Thailand to pay respects to the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej. He returned in March to hold meetings with Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha.
The two leaders happened to celebrate their birthdays within days of each other. Prayut surprised Duterte with a birthday cake. The two bonded over cultural presentations and a state dinner.
HONOR FOR THE KING. President Duterte pays his last respects to the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej
TWO LEADERS. President Rodrigo Duterte is accompanied by Thailand Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha as they enter the Thai Koo Fah Building of the Government House in Bangkok, Thailand
MEETNG OF MINDS. President Duterte and members of his delegation meet with top government officials of Thailand led by Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-chan
TOAST TO FRIENDSHIP. The two birthday celebrants toast to each other
THAI ARTISTRY. The two leaders are shown a figurine made by a Thai craftsman prior to the state dinner
A GIFT. President Duterte receives a token from Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha
APPRECIATION. President Duterte bows before the cultural performers during the state dinner with Thailand Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-chan
MALAYSIA, November 10, 2016 | Prime Minister Najib Razak
In Malaysia, Duterte and Prime Minister Najib Razak indulged their common passion for singing. In a dinner hosted in Duterte's honor, Razak sang "The Young Ones" by Cliff Richards while the Philippine President gave his rendition of the ballad, "Wind Beneath My Wings."
FIRST MEETING. President Duterte and members of his delegation attend a meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak at the Prime Minister's Office in Perdana square, Putrajaya
GESTURE OF FRIENDSHIP. President Duterte shakes hands with Prime Minister Najib Razak
SINGING CONTEST. The two officials belt out songs during a dinner
CAMBODIA, December 13 to 14, 2016 | Prime Minister Hun Sen and King Norodom Sihamoni
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen took a "selfie" with Duterte. The Philippine chief executive received a royal welcome from King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace.
SUCCESSFUL MEETING. President Duterte and Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen raise their glasses for a toast
SELFIE TIME. King of Cambodia Norodom Sihamoni looks on as President Duterte and Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen take a selfie
WITH A KING. President Duterte is welcomed by the King of Cambodia Norodom Sihamoni upon his arrival at the Royal Palace
A GOOD TALK. President Duterte and King of Cambodia Norodom Sihamoni engage in a discussion during a meeting at the Throne Hall of the Royal Palace
SINGAPORE, December 15 to 16, 2016 | Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and President Tony Tan
DURIAN DIPLOMACY. Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong treats President Duterte to durian. Photo from Singapore Ministry of Communications and Information
FOODIE CULTURE. President Duterte and his Cabinet members enjoy nasi lemak for lunch with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Photo by Singapore Ministry of Communications and Information
TWO PRESIDENTS. President Duterte and President Tony Tan Keng Yam shake hands during their meeting
MYANMAR, March 19 to 20, 2017 | President U Htin Kyaw and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi
Duterte had talks with Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw. He also met State Counsellor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi to whom he gave a bouquet of red roses and cash assistance to help her government deal with the Rohingya crisis. Suu Kyi's visit to the Philippines for the ASEAN summit will be her first time in the country.
GIFT-GIVING. President Duterte skims through the token presented by Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw during the State Banquet at the Presidential Palace
GENTLEMAN'S GIFT. President Duterte gives State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi red roses and cash assistance for the Rohingya crisis
– Rappler.com
