Papua New Guinea, Colombia, Taiwan leaders arrive | Global News

Papua New Guinea, Colombia, Taiwan leaders arrive

/ 01:18 AM November 17, 2015

PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill of Papua New Guinea and President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia arrived in Manila on Monday afternoon for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit.

Former Chinese Taipei Vice President Vincent Siew was sent by President Ma Ying-jeou as his special envoy for the leaders’ meeting.

Article continues after this advertisement

O’Neill and Santos arrived almost simultaneously past 4 p.m., at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) and at the Villamor Air Base.

FEATURED STORIES

Siew, a senior political leader of Taipei, arrived earlier around 1 p.m. on a Boeing 737 China Airlines flight.

He was welcomed by the secretary to the Cabinet Jose Rene Almendras, Manila Economic and Cultural Office (Meco) Ambassador Antonio Basilio and Meco Chair Amadeo Perez.

Article continues after this advertisement

Siew, who was vice president from 2008 to 2012, is usually tapped as special envoy to the Apec annual meeting, six of which he had attended.

Article continues after this advertisement

The leader of Chinese Taipei does not attend the Apec summit out of courtesy to the Chinese President.

Article continues after this advertisement
TRADE TALKS Columbian President Juan Manuel Santos speaks at the Apec CEO summit on Monday. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

TRADE TALKS Columbian President Juan Manuel Santos speaks at the Apec CEO summit on Monday. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

Siew represented Chinese Taipei in the 1991 Apec summit in Seoul where his country was granted membership to the organization.

He was tapped by President Ma as special envoy because of the good relationship he has established with most Apec leaders. This year, the delegation from the country will push for Chinese Taipei’s membership in the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

Article continues after this advertisement

Santos arrived at 4:15 p.m. on a Boeing 737 aircraft of the Fuerza Aerea Colombiana (Colombian Air Force) at Naia.

Santos, who was invited to the Apec summit as an observer, was welcomed by Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Ambassador to Colombia Tito Saul Penilla and Assistant Foreign Secretary Jesus Domingo.

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill arrives for the summit. RAFFY LERMA

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill arrives for the summit. RAFFY LERMA

His arrival is historic considering that it is the first time that a Colombian president visited the Philippines since diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in 1946.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Colombia has been seeking membership in Apec since 1995 and has been participating in the organization’s summit as an observer.

Papua New Guinea’s prime minister arrived at Villamor Air Base on a Falcon 900 aircraft at around 4 p.m.

TAGS: Apec 2015, Features, nation

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.