Apec leaders, traders hold talks

ALL IN BARONG President Aquino (center, front row) joins Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Former Taiwanese Vice President Vincent Siew, Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, Peruvian President Ollanta Humala, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, South Korean President Park Geun-hye, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, US President Barack Obama and Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang for the customary photo-op at SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City after the start of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit on Wednesday. JOAN BONDOC

President Aquino on Wednesday described the dialogue between the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) leaders and the region’s business leaders as “an exercise in positive innovation.”

“Confronted by an increasingly complex, interconnected, and unpredictable world, we are all challenged to look at trends that may cause disruption, so that we can act with resilience and craft a response with inclusivity at its core, ensuring no one is left behind,” the President said.

As host of this year’s summit, Mr. Aquino spoke at the opening of the 2015 Apec Business Advisory Council (Abac) dialogue on behalf of his fellow leaders seated on the stage at the spacious hall of the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) before the Abac representatives.

Mr. Aquino was flanked by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Peruvian President Ollanta Humala.

As the leaders arrived at the PICC and walked the red carpet, many observed how Mr. Aquino only spoke to Chilean President Michelle Bachelet who walked between him and Xi.

But Malacañang was quick to diffuse speculations that Mr. Aquino ignored the Chinese leader.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said that when Xi arrived at the PICC, Mr.  Aquino had already  welcomed him. Coloma said Mr. Aquino also thanked Xi “for coming to Manila and attending the Apec meeting.”

“He then gestured for President Xi to join the other leaders,” Coloma said.

Coloma also said Mr. Aquino and Xi had a two-minute conversation, but did not say where and what was discussed.

The Abac dialogue is the first gathering of the Apec leaders prior to their retreat today, where they are expected to tackle economic policies that would chart the future of free trade in the region.

As host country, the Philippines pushed for better opportunities for micro, small and medium enterprises in global trade, rationalizing that these companies are the links to hasten inclusive growth in Apec’s member economies.

In his speech, Mr. Aquino said “disruptions” could be caused by disasters that challenge governments and its peoples or business innovations that change the market.

“Disruption can also be a strategy to enable government to challenge the status quo, and adopt wide-ranging reforms to make sure  our progress remains equitable,” he said.

The President highlighted the synergy between government and the private sector. “The closer we work together, the more intelligently, efficiently and swiftly we can evolve to meet the challenges of our increasingly globalized milieu,” he said.

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