AFTER his attendance to the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations' Summit and Related Summits in Singapore, President Rodrigo Duterte flew to Papua New Guinea on Friday, November 16, to attend the two-day Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Leaders' meeting.
Duterte arrived at the Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea at around 5:05 a.m. (Manila time), Friday.
He was welcomed by Papua New Guinea Chief of the Diplomatic Protocol Ambassador Morea Veratau, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Treasury Charles Abel, Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato, Apec Minister Justin Tkatchenko, and Papua New Guinea Ambassador to the Philippines Nawi Bokuik.
The President is scheduled to meet with the members of the Filipino community at the clubhouse of FIlipino Association of Papua New Guinea on Friday evening.
To date, some 40,000 Filipinos are working and residing in Papua New Guinea, according to data from the Department of Foreign Affairs.
On Saturday, November 17, Duterte would participate in the Apec Business Advisory Council with the member economies; Apec Leaders' Dialogue with Pacific Island Leaders; and the Apec leaders' gala dinner and cultural performance.
Duterte would also join fellow leaders in an official Apec leaders' family photo and in the International Monetary Fund Informal Dialogue on Sunday, November 18.
Before returning home, Duterte would also grace the Leader's retreat and working lunch.
On November 12, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ernesto Abella said Duterte would promote the Philippines as "one of the best performing economies and the fastest growing region" in Southeast Asia.
"The Philippines has much to contribute, as well as much to gain from a fruitful discussion with our neighbors, friends and allies in Apec," Abella said in an earlier press briefing.
"This is a new era for Filipino engagement on the world stage. The Asia Pacific region represents the epicenter of global worth making Apec the most important economic cooperation platform in the world," he added. (SunStar Philippines)