Marcos shares how he approached Xi Jinping at APEC Summit

BUSAN, South Korea - President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Saturday shared how he approached Chinese President Xi Jinping at the 32nd APEC Summit in South Korea.

Marcos told the Philippine media delegation that the Chinese leader has always had his security personnel around him.

''The only time I was able to speak to President Xi Jinping was in our last leaders retreat meeting. And the reason why, ang hirap lapitan talaga. You know, we're held in, meron kami holding room. But every time he comes in, he's surrounded by security. Ang hirap lapitan. Ayoko namang mamilit. Baka suntukin pa ako ng security guard niya,'' Marcos said.

(The only time I was able to speak to President Xi Jinping was in our last leaders retreat meeting. And the reason why, it's really hard to approach him. You know, we're held in, we have a holding room. But every time he comes in, he's surrounded by security. It's hard to approach. I don't want to insist. His security personnel might punch me.)

Still, Marcos shook hands with Xi as he congratulated him on China's hosting of the APEC Summit next year.

''But when we came to the end, sabi ko, nakakahiya ito. Hindi pa ako bumabati. Baka kung anong sabihin, baka naman ma-offend. So pinilit ko makapunta sa kanya. I said, 'congratulations on your assumption for the chair for the following APEC,''' Marcos said, adding what he did was ''common courtesy.''  

(But when we came to the end, I said, 'It's embarrassing. I haven't extended my greetings yet.' They might be offended. So I tried to go to him. I said, 'congratulations on your assumption for the chair for the following APEC.')

The Philippines and China have been locked in a decades-long maritime dispute in the West Philippine Sea, a portion of the South China Sea that is inside Manila's exclusive economic zone.

However, Beijing has repeatedly asserted sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea.

On Tuesday, Marcos said he was hopeful that the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea would be concluded when the Philippines hosts the ASEAN Summits next year and that he would exert all efforts to invite Xi to Manila for its signing.

Marcos said the APEC Summit is not the venue for him and Xi to tackle issues in the West Philippine Sea. 

He also said neither the Philippines nor China had initiated a meeting during the economic summit. —VBL, GMA Integrated News