PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. will leave today for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Bangkok, Thailand where he will talk on the urgency of addressing food security, energy security, climate change and the post-coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic recovery.
The Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) announced the attendance of Marcos in the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) from November 16 to 19 amid reports that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen had tested positive for COVID-19 and canceled his attendance to the G20 meeting in Bali, Indonesia.
Marcos arrived last Monday from Cambodia where he attended the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit and Related Summit that Sen hosted.
It is the first APEC Summit meeting for Marcos, who assumed the presidency in June. The event is also the first in-person meeting of APEC leaders since the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020.
The OPS said the President and other leaders are expected to discuss sustainable trade and investment, reconnecting the region and charting paths towards post-pandemic recovery, and inclusive and sustainable growth during the summit.
Marcos is also expected to talk about the issues of food security, energy security, climate change and the post- COVID-19 pandemic recovery as well as push for the economic agenda and priorities such as empowering micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and their inclusion in global value chains, and recognizing the essential role of maritime crews and seafarers in ensuring stable and resilient supply chains.
The President is also expected to attend the Asean-EU (European Union) Summit in Brussels, Belgium in December.
The Department of Foreign Affairs previously said that Marcos is expected to have bilateral meetings with six leaders on the sidelines of the APEC Summit but declined to name them pending the final arrangements.
The President is also expected to join the APEC-CEO Summit where he will meet with top business leaders in the region and discuss business opportunities, investments, and expansion plans, and with the Filipino community in Thailand.
Among the Cabinet members joining the trip are Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual.
Also attending the APEC Summit are leaders of Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam.
