A Department of Foreign Affairs official said the Philippines and China will “definitely” discuss their issues over the West Philippine (South China) Sea when President Benigno Aquino III attends the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Week meeting in Russia next week.

In a Palace briefing on Wednesday, DFA Undersecretary for International Economic Relations Laura del Rosario said that China requested a bilateral meeting with Aquino at the event, and although this has not yet been formally accepted, the President will prioritize it.

“I’m sure the President will say 'yes.' It will be number one in his priority list. Yeah, I think I can [clearly] say that. China is number one in the priority list,” she said, adding that the territorial issues between the two countries will “definitely” be discussed should the bilateral meeting push through.

Aquino and China President Hu Jintao are both scheduled to attend the APEC meeting.

Del Rosario clarified that the issue will not be discussed in the summit meeting itself, but in a separate bilateral meeting.

“APEC is not the proper forum for political issues. If you notice, this is purely economic. Look at our priority issues on the board. They are really economic,” she said.

“So definitely, yes, we expect the Spratly issue, the West Philippine Sea or the South China Sea issue to come up somewhere in the bilaterals,” she added.

The Philippines and China have been locked in a standoff since April this year over the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.

The Spratly group of islands, also in the West Philippine Sea, has been another source of contention between the two countries for years.

This year’s APEC meeting will be held in Vladivostok from September 2 to 9. Aquino will attend the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) on the 8th and 9th.

The issues to be discussed in the APEC meeting as set by host Russia are: trade and investment liberalization; regional economic integration; strengthening food security; establishing reliable supply chains; and intensive cooperation to foster innovative growth.

APEC host in '15

The meeting will also formalize the Philippines as the APEC host for 2015, del Rosario said, though the site for the meeting has not yet been decided. She mentioned Amanpulo in Palawan and Boracay Island as among the places considered.

The place will have to be able to offer at least 63 presidential and ministerial suites for the attendees, Del Rosario said.

Indonesia is set to host the APEC meeting in 2013 and China the year after that.

Del Rosario said the Philippines’ hosting after Indonesia and China bodes well for the country because it means better planning of the economic issues to be discussed.

“Now, we’re waiting for the issues also of Indonesia and China because whatever agenda items they have that are very useful to us, we will carry them over,” she said.

“So that’s why we’re happy that we’re hosting after China because then ... your priorities will be part of our priorities just to show you ... that we really want to cooperate on the economic agenda,” she continued.

Joining Aquino to complete the Philippine delegation to the meeting are DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory L. Domingo and Department of Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima.

Aquino will also participate in the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) meeting, in which the Philippines will be represented by A. Magsaysay Inc. president and CEO Doris Magsaysay Ho, Jollibee Foods Corporation CEO and chairman Tony Tan Caktiong, and Ayala Corporation chairman and CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala. — BM, GMA News