US envoy lauds Philippines' hosting of ASEAN’s 50th anniversary

MANILA, Philippines — US Ambassador Sung Kim on Monday praised the Philippines' hosting of the gala celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations.

The gala celebration was held on Sunday evening at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. It was attended by about 1,300 delegates who include 20 world leaders and dialogue partners.

“Congratulations to the Philippines on hosting a spectacular Special Gala Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN!” Kim’s tweet read.

Kim made the statement despite a huge anti-US Donald Trump protest staged by militant groups on Monday. The demonstration welcomed the opening of the ASEAN summit and occurred near the US Embassy.

President Trump joined other nations’ leaders at the Special Gala Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN. #POTUSinAsia pic.twitter.com/43azlNjy5a

— U.S. Embassy in the Philippines (@usembassymanila) November 12, 2017

Militant groups led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan prepared a "fascist spinner" effigy of Trump holding a gun, bag of money, nuclear bomb and backhoe, which they burned. This is to protest his visit and the US and Philippines supposed “fascist” regime.

READ: Protest greets ASEAN Summit kickoff

Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte, chair of the 31st ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, said he was also “deeply honored” to host the rare occasion where world leaders gather to celebrate the bloc.

Among the attendees of the gala celebration are the following:

• US President Donald Trump

• China’s Premier Li Keqiang,

• Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev,

•  Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe,

• Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau,

• Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah,

• Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull,

• Indonesian President Joko Widodo,

• Laos Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith,

• Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi,

• Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong,

• Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha,

• European Council President Donald Tusk,

• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi,

• Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak,

• New Zealand Prime  Minister Jacinda Ardern,

• South Korea President Moon Jae-in,

• Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc,

• Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen  

• United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

Duterte said he hosted the gala celebration to commemorate the achievements of the ASEAN for the past 50 years.