Duterte to attend online APEC meeting on Nov. 12, 2021

President Rodrigo Duterte will attend online the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting chaired by New Zealand on November 12.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said this year's meeting had on the the agenda the global economic outlook, COVID-19 recovery, and building prosperity.

The meeting will include a presentation by the International Monetary Fund.

The next chair of APEC will be Thailand, a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations like the Philippines.

At last year's APEC meeting, Duterte called on nations to "strengthen partnerships to make [COVID-19] vaccines a global public good."

The country has so far fully vaccinated 27 million Filipinos.

It is looking to inoculate 50% of the Philippine population of 109 million by the end of the year, and 80% by May 9, 2022. -NB, GMA News