PBBM, magkakaroon ng anim na bilateral meetings sa sidelines ng APEC summit

MAY anim na bilateral meetings ang dadaluhan ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  sa sidelines ng Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit sa Thailand.

“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,”  ayon kay DFA Assistant Secretary Eric Tamayo.

Napaulat na dadalo rin sa  APEC Leaders Meeting si United States Vice President Kamala Harris  na nakatakda sa susunod na linggo.

At sa tanong kung makakapulong ni Pangulong Marcos sina United States Vice President Kamala Harris at Russian President Vladimir Putin,  na dadalo sa summit,  sinabi ni Tamayo  na: “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.”

Nauna nang sinabi ng White House  na bibisita sa Pilipinas si  Harris para muling pagtibayin aty palakasin ang  US-Philippines Alliance at  “underscore the breadth of our cooperation as friends, partners, and allies”  matapos ang kanyang partisipasyon sa  APEC.

Ang Thailand  ang magho- host ng APEC Summit ngayong taon na may layunin na ituon ang pansin na ipanumbalik ang  connectivity sa pamamagitan ng pagpapatuloy ng  “safe and seamless cross-border travel, reinvigorating tourism and the services sector, facilitating business mobility as well as increasing investment in health security.”

Ayon kay Office of the Press Secretary officer-in-charge Undersecretary Cheloy Garafil, ang APEC Summit ay isang oportunidad  para sa Pilipinas para isulong ang “economic agenda at 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,” ayon kay Garafil.

Sa gitna ng COVID-19 pandemic,  ang APEC ay gumawa ng  “utmost effort”  nito na i- adapt at pag-usapan ang “unprecedented challenges” na makaaapekto  sa  economic well-being ng rehiyon.

Itinatag noong 1989, ang  APEC  ay mayroong core value  na i-promote ang  regional economic integration  sa ilalim  ng non-legally binding manner at friendly environment.  (Daris Jose)