“We need to target not only the terrorists, but also their entire supporting ecosystem”, Modi said while addressing the 11th East Asia Summit here, te premier leaders-led forum of the Asia-Pacific region.
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“The exchange consisted of pleasantries between the two”.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, third left in white top, walks in with officials during ongoing 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits and other related summits at National Convention Center in Vientiane, Laos, Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016. He says “this is where the action will be” in terms of commerce and trade.
While the USA wanted to partner with the Philippines on thwarting drug traffickers it also would want “to make sure the partnership we have is consistent with global norms and rule of law”, Obama said. He said the leaders had helped create a unified voice against North Korea in the wake of missile launches that stirred further concerns about the North’s nuclear program.
Obama and Duterte are in the Laotian capital along with other regional leaders for the summit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today met US President Barack Obama here and discussed the immediate priorities in the strategic bilateral partnership, including strengthening the civil nuclear cooperation and combating climate change. The two grinned and shook hands but made no substantive comments as reporters were allowed in briefly for the start of their meeting.
“The leaders noted our joint commitment, fulfilled by the United States in advance of the G20 Leaders’ Summit, to join the Paris Agreement this year as well as our resolve to adopt an ambitious HFC amendment to the Montreal Protocol this year”, the official added.
President Barack Obama says the US wants to work constructively with Southeast Asian nations to lower tensions with China in the South China Sea.
Earlier on Thursday, speaking at the 14th India-Asean Summit here, in an obvious reference to Pakistan, Modi said “export of terror” was a common threat to the region.
“I expect to work very hard over the next four and a half months”, he said.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte skipped summit meetings Thursday of Southeast Asian leaders with their US and Indian counterparts in Laos due to migraine, an official said. He says the USA will also keep pushing for completion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal.
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The Philippines has been a key USA ally in opposition to China’s expansive territorial claims in the contested waters.
