Busan: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. arrived in South Korea on Thursday ahead of the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting, where he is expected to push for stronger trade and investment ties across the region. The presidential plane carrying Marcos and his delegation landed at Gimhae International Airport in Busan at 5 p.m. (local time).
According to Philippines News Agency, Marcos will proceed to a meeting with members of the Filipino community before joining APEC-related events on Friday. Marcos is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and deliver a keynote address at the APEC CEO Summit, pitching the Philippines as a reliable, innovation-driven partner for global investors.
Top executives attending the CEO Summit include Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, CATL chairman Zeng Yuqun, and leaders of Korea’s major conglomerates-Samsung, LG, SK, and Hyundai Motor. The APEC Leaders’ Meeting will also see key figures such as U.S. President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, and Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk.
Trump and Xi held a closely watched bilateral meeting on the sidelines to discuss trade and regional security, a dialogue Marcos earlier described as potentially shaping ‘everything that will be done in APEC.’ In his departure statement, Marcos said the growth and stability of the Asia-Pacific region are directly tied to the opportunities and welfare of all Filipinos, as the region accounts for nearly 46 percent of global trade in goods and commercial services and generates around 61 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP).
‘So, given these high stakes, this gathering is imperative,’ the President said during the departure ceremony at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City. ‘We convene at a critical juncture, defined by evolving geopolitical landscapes, supply chain disruptions, threats of climate change, and the urgent need for equitable and inclusive growth,’ he added.
