AS the 38th and 39th Asean Summit and Related Summits wrap up, President Rodrigo Duterte welcomed the United States government's commitment to strengthen its ties with the regional bloc with regards to effectively addressing public health emergencies.

During his intervention at the 9th Asean-US Summit with his fellow Southeast Asian leaders and US President Joe Biden participating virtually, Duterte lauded the Americans' support to member states amid the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic that has 'has brought complicated challenges to all of us.'