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Rohingya, terrorism, South China Sea and digital economy - key topics expected in 31st Asean Summit

MANILA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak arrived here this afternoon for the three-day 31st Asean Summit and related summits which ends on Tuesday.

Najib, accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, was received at the Clark International airport, Pampanga here by Malaysian ambassador to the Philippines Datuk Raszlan Abdul Rashid and the Philippine Department of Interior and Local Government officer in charge Catalino Salandanan Cuy.

At 5.15pm, Najib is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe.

He is also scheduled to hold two other bilateral meetings, on the sidelines of the Summit tomorrow and Tuesday, with his counterparts Lee Hsien Loong from Singapore and China's Le Keqiang.

Tonight, Najib and other leaders will be feted to a Gala dinner at SMX Convention Centre, Pasay City by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

Themed “Partnering for Change, Engaging the World”, this year’s meetings coincide with the 50th anniversary of the 10 member regional grouping, and will focus on closer cooperation and greater reforms to accelerate economic integration in the region.

Leaders will also discuss regional and international issues of common concern such as the South China Sea, Korean Peninsula, counter terrorism and violent extremism and cyber digital economy.

The Rohingya refugee crisis in Myanmar is also expected to be raised, with the possibility of it being discussed behind closed door.

Yesterday (Saturday) Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman had told the Malaysian media here that Najib was very concerned about what was happening in Rakhine State.

He had said not only Malaysia, but other countries, including Asean's dialogue partners would also likely raise the issue which has seen more than 600,000 Rohingya Muslims displaced from their homes following the intensified crackdown on the Rohingya in Rakhine state.

ASEAN dialogue partner countries are Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, United States, Canada and the European Union.

The Manila gathering will also see a total of 11 Summits and is expected to adopt 56 outcome documents, including the non-legally binding Asean Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers.

The instrument was drafted as a follow-up to the Asean Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers or Cebu Declaration 2007 inked by Asean leaders in 2007.

Leaders are also expected to sign the Asean-Hong Kong, China Free Trade Agreement (AHKFTA) and the Agreement on Investment among Asean member states and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China (AHKIA).

Other outcome includes East Asia Summit Leaders' statement on anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism, cooperation in poverty alleviation and chemical weapons.

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