MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Former president and Pampanga 2nd District Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo hosted a dinner on Saturday evening, November 11, in Clark, Pampanga for Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi in Clark, Pampanga.

The two leaders arrived in the country through Clark on Saturday to attend the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Meetings in Manila.

The dinner started at around 7:30 pm at the Midori Hotel in Clark, where most of the leaders would be landing.

“It is an auspicious time for the Philippine-Cambodia and Philippine-Myanmar ties as we’re on the heel of celebrating the 60th anniversary of the formal establishment of our bilateral relations,” Arroyo said in her remarks as she made a toast to the two leaders.

Cabinet secretaries were also expected to arrive, according to Arroyo’s appointment secretary, Menchie Dulay.

The dinner was Arroyo’s own initiative, according to ASEAN organizers from Malacañang.

A welcome dinner for economic ministers will be held at the same time at the Manila Marriott Hotel.

As a former president, Arroyo is also invited to the opening and closing ceremonies of the Summit on November 13 and 14 (READ: Former president Aquino to skip ASEAN events)

Before President Rodrigo Duterte, Arroyo held the last ASEAN chairmanship for the Philippines in 2007.

At the 30th Summit also held in Manila last April, Arroyo attended as a panelist the Prosperity for All forum organized by the ASEAN Business Advisory Council. – Rappler.com