Mongolia and Turkey have expressed interest in joining the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) and their leaders have asked Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to pave the way for their entry into the regional group.

President Rodrigo Duterte said that he had separate talks with both Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Mongolian Prime Minister Jargaltulga Erdenebat on the sidelines of the Belt and Road Forum held recently in Beijing, China.

“They also want to join ASEAN,” the President said upon arrival before dawn yesterday at the Davao International Airport after his trips to Cambodia, Hong Kong and China.

Mr Duterte said the two heads of state have asked him to sponsor their entry into the ASEAN since he is the chair of the regional group this year.

“They wanted me to sponsor their entry and I said, ‘Yes, why not?’” the President added.

But the President pointed out that Myanmar democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi asked him to consider the physical geography of Turkey and Mongolia, whether they are part of Southeast Asia, before acceding to their request. (philstar)