By Darryl John Esguerra | Philippine News Agency
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. left Manila on Thursday for South Korea to attend the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting, where he is expected to push for stronger regional trade and investment ties.
The President and his delegation departed from Villamor Air Base in Pasay City at 12:45 p.m. and are set to arrive in this coastal city later in the day. Upon arrival, he will meet with members of the Filipino community before joining APEC-related activities.
At the APEC CEO Summit, Marcos will deliver a keynote address before top business executives and policymakers, pitching the Philippines as a “reliable, forward-looking partner” in the Asia-Pacific.
Notable business leaders at the APEC CEO Summit are Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, CATL chairperson Zeng Yuqun, and the heads of Korea’s influential conglomerates, including Samsung, LG, SK, and Hyundai Motor.
His remarks will focus on high-value investments in semiconductors, green energy, and digital transformation, sectors central to his administration’s bid to future-proof the Philippine economy.
“We will highlight how we are pursuing digital transformation as a core pillar of our development, fully recognizing the potential of new technologies to unlock a more prosperous and resilient future,” Marcos said in his departure statement.
He will also meet one-on-one with executives of priority industries, including those in advanced manufacturing and renewable energy, and hold a bilateral meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on Friday.
The Philippines and South Korea mark 76 years of diplomatic relations this year, deepened by a Strategic Partnership signed in 2024, covering defense, economic cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges.
Marcos will end his visit with a wreath-laying and tree-planting ceremony at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery to honor the 7,420 Filipino soldiers who fought in the Korean War.
Eyes on Trump–Xi talks
Marcos Jr.’s trip unfolded as United States President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held high-stakes talks on the sidelines of APEC.
Trump and Xi met in Busan on Thursday. After the meeting, the American leader has reportedly left on Air Force One with no immediate word on how the talks went.
In his pre-departure speech, Marcos acknowledged the significance of the Trump–Xi dialogue, calling it a potential “turning point” for global trade.
“It is impossible to talk about this APEC meeting without referencing the meeting between President Trump and President Xi,” Marcos said.
“The results of those meetings will color and influence everything that we will be doing in APEC.”
During the President’s trip, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin will head the three-man government caretaker committee, with Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III and Education Secretary Sonny Angara as members.
