Duterte skips summit

• Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte skipped the Asean-US summit in Vientiane yesterday, which was attended by US President Barack Obama.

Officials attending the summit said Philippine Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay read Mr Duterte's statement on his behalf.

In the statement, Mr Duterte expressed regret over his obscenity-laden rant against Mr Obama, which had prompted the White House to cancel bilateral talks between the two leaders here.

THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

Integration plan adopted

Asean leaders adopted a five-year integration work plan at the Asean summit on Tuesday, with the aim of narrowing the region's development gaps and enhancing its competitiveness.

The third Work Plan of the Initiative for Asean Integration builds upon the first one launched in 2000.

It will continue to provide technical assistance to Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, which joined Asean between 1995 and 1999, to enhance their capacity to implement their regional commitments.

The work plan focuses on five strategic areas, including food and agriculture; trade facilitation; micro, small and medium-sized enterprises; education; as well as health and well-being.

VIENTIANE TIMES/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

Turnbull invites Asean

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has extended an invitation to the leaders of the 10 Asean nations to attend a summit in Canberra in 2018, as his country seeks to strengthen ties with its regional neighbours.

Mr Turnbull, who was attending the Asean Summit, announced the proposed meeting in a statement on his website.

The leaders would discuss at the meeting a number of regional issues, such as the threat of terrorism and the future of trade between Australia and nations in South-east Asia.

A special summit in Australia "would deepen our economic partnership through closer links between Asean and Australian businesses and the private sector, and bolster our strategic partnership", he said.

XINHUA