PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is expected to discuss his 10-point socioeconomic agenda with different world leaders at the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summits in Peru.
Senior Special Assistant of the Department of Foreign Affairs' (DFA) International Economic Relations Leo Lim Sr. said Apec would serve as the "bigger stage for the President to showcase both his mystique and agenda for the country."
Lim said it would be better for Duterte to share with other Apec economic leaders his agenda since it has received good reviews from independent parties and international governmental organizations.
"I think the President knows, for one, that Apec is important to the Philippines and to the region," Lim said in a pre-departure briefing.
"And he believes, I think, that Apec is one good platform for him to articulate again his policies because when you look at the 10-point socioeconomic agenda of the President, many of the agenda items there are within the sphere of Apec’s agenda," he added.
Last Friday, the President said he might skip the Apec summit because he hates long-haul travel.
Duterte, however, said he was still contemplating since Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay had advised him to grace the event.
Lim believes there is a slim chance that the President will be a no-show at the summits since the preparations for his travel are already underway.
"I am perhaps not yet ready to speculate that the President is skipping the Apec because all are planning, all are in communication lines that the President is attending Apec," Lim said, when asked if Duterte might still skip the event.
"So if there's any reason for him to skip, I cannot speak on behalf of the Office of the President on that aspect," he added.
Duterte is expected to attend the Apec economic leaders meeting on November 19 to 20.
Lim said that on November 19, Apec economic leaders will have a dialogue with the Apec Business Advisory Council (Abac), which is composed of three CEOs of each of the 21-member Apec countries.
Lim said there will also be a break-out sessions, involving all the 21 leaders and 63 Abac CEOs. Duterte, he said, would join "Group 4" that consists the leaders of Japan, Mexico, and Singapore.
The issues expected to be tackled at the Abac-Apec dialogue are the next economic integration of Asia Pacific; growing global micro, small and medium enterprises; larger and robust inclusive financial markets; sustainable development and regulatory quality; and closing the gap.
Lim said there would also be an informal dialogue with Pacific Alliance countries -- Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru. Of the four, only Colombia is not a member of Apec.
Lim said Apec economic leaders would also meet Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
The last event would be the Gala Dinner hosted by Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski.
On November 20, Apec economic leaders will begin the summit with an informal dialogue with International Monetary Fund managing director Christine Lagarde.
After the meeting with Lagarade, Lim said the Apec leaders will go into two retreats.
Lim said Apec leaders would likely discuss on the first retreat the reforms for free trade and capital mobility; the small and medium enterprises; internationalization and participation in the global value chain; and the opportunities offered by the digital, trade services and knowledge economy.
On the second retreat, Lim said food security, climate change, access to water, and integration of the Asia Pacific are among the topics to be discussed.
Duterte to have bilateral meetings with at least four leaders
Lim said that Duterte will squeeze in bilateral dialogue with at two to four leaders during his two-day stay to Peru.
"We anticipate around two to four. We are still trying to find both the schedule and the timings. These are the pretty much the arranged ones," Lim said.
Lim said only two to four bilateral arrangements are expected because they do not want "to burden the President with too many and then it doesn’t benefit both parties in terms of a constructive dialogue."
Lim also refused to further provide any details on who will be the leaders Duterte will possibly talk to.
Other leaders who are also set to attend the Apec summits are United States President Barack Obama, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Of the three, Duterte has been able to talk to Xi. (Sunnex)
