Marcos arrives at APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting

GYEONGJU—President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. arrived at the Hwabaek International Convention Center on Friday morning to participate in the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting (AELM).

Marcos was welcomed by South Korean President Lee Jae-myung. 

The AELM serves as a platform for economic leaders to discuss regional economic priorities to advance the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040 and aims to issue the AELM Declaration, which outlines their collective commitments and strategic direction for regional economic cooperation in APEC.

The APEC leaders arrived in Gyeongju to attend this week's forum, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. 

Meanwhile, United States President Donald Trump is skipping the leaders' summit as he has already departed after attending a business forum and holding talks with Lee and Xi.

South Korea, as the host of this year's APEC Summit, aims to produce an outcome endorsed by all participants in its envisioned "Gyeongju Declaration" and highlight its own initiatives, including artificial intelligence and demographic changes.

After welcoming his visiting counterparts and participating guests the first session will commence. The second session will be on Saturday, November 1.

Over the two sessions, the leaders will review the suggestions made by top foreign and trade officials of the APEC members as regards how to make the Asia-Pacific region more prosperous. 

It is up to the leaders if they will reach a consensus on charting the path for international trade during the sessions. — VAL/RSJ, GMA Integrated News