Duterte responds positively to Vietnam’s visit invitationVIENTIANE, Laos – President Rodrigo Duterte has responded very positively to the invitation of Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang for him to visit Vietnam during their bilateral meeting Tuesday on the sidelines of the 28th and 29th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit currently being held. “[President Duterte] said he might visit between the end of the year or maybe early next year,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella told reporters in a media interview at the National Convention Center. According to Abella, the two leaders had a “very positive exchange” during their bilateral meeting which lasted around 15 to 25 minutes. On the South China Sea issue, the Presidential spokesperson said the two sides agreed that there must be freedom of navigation. Both the Philippines and Vietnam have ongoing territorial disputes with China over parts of the South China Sea.

Source: Manila Bulletin September 06, 2016 14:32 UTC