PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday said he will make his third visit to the United States, since becoming president last year, in November to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit (APEC).
Marcos, during the courtesy call of the members of the US-Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) Business Council in Malacañang, also said the Philippines is actively participating in Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, and APEC meetings leading to the APEC’ leaders meeting in San Francisco from November 15 to 17.
“I look forward to joining fellow APEC leaders in California, later this year. This will be my third trip in US since I assumed office,” Marcos said.
Marcos’ attendance to the APEC Summit was announced in December last year by Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez.
The President first went to the US in September 2022 to attend the United Nations General Assembly. His second trip and official visit was from April 30 to May 4 during which he met with US President Joe Biden.
Marcos has gone on 14 trips since becoming President and is set to visit Indonesia next month to attend the September 4 to 6 ASEAN Summit.
The President said he intends to advance the country’s energy security interest when he joins APEC later this year.
“With energy security high in the economic agenda, we are particularly interested in sustainable land, water, and ocean solutions that align with our climate goals and support our plans to transform the Philippines into an upper Middle-Income Country by the year 2025,” he said.
Marcos said the Philippines is exerting all efforts to increase the number of power sources that lean towards clean energy including nuclear energy.
“I am interested in the potential of nuclear energy, especially in light of new technologies and innovations that allow the use of smaller scale, modular, nuclear reactors, and other advanced [reactors] technologies that we see as being safer and more efficient than the more traditional designs of nuclear power production,” he said.
He also said discussions are ongoing between the Philippines and the US on the 123 Agreement which will provide the legal framework for civil and nuclear-related investments, particularly nuclear power in the Philippines.
Marcos also vowed to build infrastructure to help power a growing economy, as the Philippines transitions to clean and renewable energy.
Apart from energy, Marcos said he also looks forward to more engagements involving both the government and private sector, especially in mobilizing financial resources for investments in key areas such as critical infrastructure, research and development, and human capital development.
