Marcos to have at least six bilateral meetings on sidelines of APEC Summit

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will have at least six bilateral meetings at the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Thailand, a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) official said on Monday.

"Yes, the President is having bilateral meetings with six counterparts. The arrangements are still being finalized so I'm not at liberty to disclose yet at this time which economies and leaders they are," DFA Assistant Secretary Eric Tamayo said at a press briefing.

Reports said United States Vice President Kamala Harris would also attend the APEC Leaders Meeting scheduled next week.

Asked if Marcos will meet with United States Vice President Kamala Harris and Russian President Vladimir Putin, who will reportedly attend the summit, Tamayo responded: "Right now, I can say that among the roster of bilateral meetings of the President that these meetings have yet to be explored for the time being."

The White House earlier said Harris will be visiting the Philippines to re-affirm and strengthen the US-Philippines Alliance and "underscore the breadth of our cooperation as friends, partners, and allies" after her participation at the APEC.

According to DFA spokesperson Teresita Daza, Harris will be in the Philippines for three days,

"It will be a three-day visit, the details of which will be shared in due course. The Philippines, of course, welcomes the visit of the Vice President to Manila as it will provide another opportunity to further strengthen engagement, our engagement with the US following high level meetings in the past," Daza said.

"She will also be joined by the Second Gentleman (Douglas Emhoff) in this forthcoming visit. As I mentioned, details will be forthcoming as soon as these are available," she added.

Thailand will host this year's APEC Summit with the aim to focus on restoring connectivity by resuming safe and seamless cross-border travel, reinvigorating tourism and the services sector, facilitating business mobility as well as increasing investment in health security.

According to Office of the Press Secretary officer-in-charge Undersecretary Cheloy Garafil, the APEC Summit is an opportunity for the Philippines to push for its economic agenda and priorities.

"These include the empowerment of our MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) and their inclusion in global value chains, recognition of essential role of our maritime crews and seafarers in ensuring stable and resilient supply chains, ensuring our food and energy security and climate change mitigation and adaptation," she said.

Garafil said the President would also meet with Thai companies to discuss business opportunities, investments, and expansion plans. She said Marcos would also visit the Filipino community in Bangkok.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, APEC has made its utmost e?ort to adapt and tackle the unprecedented challenges which affect the region’s economic well-being.

Established in 1989, APEC has its core value of promoting regional economic integration under a non-legally binding manner and friendly environment.  —KBK, GMA Integrated News