(VOVworld) – US President Barack Obama and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte had a meeting on Wednesday before attending a gala dinner at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Laos.

US President Barack Obama in a speech (Photo: AFP/VNA)

The two leaders met just days after Duterte used intemperate language to refer to Obama at a press conference in Laos on Monday. Duterte said he would continue his crackdown on suspected drug dealers and users, regardless of Obama’s concerns over the extrajudicial killings that have occurred during the raids. In response, the US President canceled their scheduled bilateral talks.

On Tuesday, Duterte expressed regret over the remarks and expressed his hope that the two countries would iron out differences arising out of national priorities and perceptions and that they would cooperate responsibly.