Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Singapore from Nov 13 to 15. "It will be the first time Putin will come for the ASEAN +Russia (ASEAN plus One) meeting. One of the reasons is probably because Indonesia is the coordinator of the meeting and so Putin has asked for meeting Jokowi," the Director for ASEAN External Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Benny Siahaan, stated here on Thursday. At the ASEAN-Russia meeting, Jokowi will convey the common view of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations member countries to Russia. "Jokowi will read the `ASEAN Common Statement,` which is the collection of the views of ASEAN member countries, to Russia," he remarked. The 10 ASEAN member countries and Russia will also discuss efforts to increase cooperation in several fields such as cyber security and education. Jokowi will attend the 33rd ASEAN Summit, with … [Read more...] about Jokowi to meet Putin on the sidelines of ASEAN Summit
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President Jokowi to attend ASEAN Summit in Singapore
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is scheduled to attend the 33rd ASEAN Summit on Nov 13-15 in Singapore. "The president will be attending the ASEAN Summit, accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, on Nov 13-15 in Singapore," Arrmanatha Nasir, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated in Jakarta, Thursday. During the series of activities at the three-day summit, the president is scheduled to attend 17 ASEAN meetings, including the ASEAN Plus Three, East Asia Summit or EAS, and several ASEAN Plus One meetings. The Ministry`s Director of ASEAN External Cooperation Benny Siahaan revealed that President Jokowi will be participating in the ASEAN Summit Assembly on Nov 14. He stated that President Jokowi will deliver a speech on the importance of ASEAN countries acting as a united family in facing crisis and challenges that arise in the region, including issues related to humanity and conflict in Myanmar`s Rakhine state. He remarked … [Read more...] about President Jokowi to attend ASEAN Summit in Singapore
Putin to meet Jokowi during Russia-ASEAN Summit in Singapore
Moscow (ANTARA News) - Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to meet his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo (Jokowi) on the sidelines of the Russia-ASEAN Summit to be held in Singapore in November 2018. Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Valentina Matviyenko announced Putin`s plan to meet the Indonesian president following his meeting with the delegation of the Indonesian Regional Representative Council (DPD). The meeting discussed collaboration and potential cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the economic and trade fields. According to Matviyenko, Putin planned to meet Jokowi on the occasion of the Russia-ASEAN Summit in Singapore in November 2018. "I hope that the meeting between the presidents of the two countries would encourage increased cooperation between the two nations," he noted. President Jokowi had paid a state visit to Russia in 2016. During the visit, Jokowi held talks with Putin to discuss … [Read more...] about Putin to meet Jokowi during Russia-ASEAN Summit in Singapore
COA: PCOO officials must be charged for ASEAN Summit procurement irregularities
MANILA - The Commision on Audit has recommended the filing of charges against officials of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) for irregularities in procurement of goods and services used for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit last year. Government auditors said in the 2017 audit report on the PCOO that the agency awarded contracts to suppliers without adhering to the provisions of the Government Procurement Act. “We recommended that management file the appropriate charges against any erring officials, as prescribed under Section 65.1 of the Revised Implementing Rules of Republic Act No. 9184, for taking action that favored a particular supplier/s,” the COA said. Among those flagged by government auditors on PCOO, currently headed by Secretary Martin Andanar, were contact costs for handmade soaps from three suppliers which were higher than the approved budget of P758,000. Printing contracts and powerbank supplies contracts were also … [Read more...] about COA: PCOO officials must be charged for ASEAN Summit procurement irregularities
Office of the President cites ASEAN Summit hosting as COA flags liquidation problems
MANILA - The Commission on Audit has flagged unliquidated cash advances granted to officers and employees of the Office of the President amounting to P6.426 million and unutilized cash advances due for refund amounting to P447,275. In the 2017 annual audit report on the OP headed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, government auditors noted that there were no demand letters issued by the OP's chief accountant to compel accountable officers to refund their unliquidated balances. The OP said the country's hosting of the ASEAN Summit partly contributed to the office's liquidation problems. “Management also commented that this was due to the voluminous transactions due to the hosting of the ASEAN (Summit) in 2017,” the COA said. The audit agency also noted in the report that the expenses incurred for 2017 and 2016 under the OP's Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) “were due to the Philippine hosting of the ASEAN 2017.” Consultancy services went up … [Read more...] about Office of the President cites ASEAN Summit hosting as COA flags liquidation problems