Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 8) — President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will be attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, which will be held physically in Thailand on November 18 and 19, his camp confirmed Wednesday.
In a statement, Marcos’ camp said he was personally invited by Thai Chargé d’ Affaires Thawat Sumitmo to the event.
The Thai government extended the invitation during the courtesy call of Association of Southeast Asian Nations ambassadors to the incoming chief executive.
This is the first APEC summit to be held face-to-face after four years. The 2019 summit was canceled in Chile due to protests then, while those in 2020 and 2021 were held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s APEC summit will focus on charting a post-pandemic future for the Asia-Pacific region. Its theme is “Open. Connect. Balance.” It means open to all opportunities, connect in all dimensions, and balance in all aspects.
“As APEC moves forward from the health and economic crises, we need to promote long-term growth that is resilient, inclusive, balanced and sustainable,” read the summit’s official website.
APEC was established in 1989 and consists of 21 countries, with the Philippines among its founding members.
The Philippines chaired APEC twice: in 1996 under former President Fidel Ramos and in 2015 under the late former President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III.
