BANGKOK, Thailand —President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos arrived here on Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 16, for his maiden participation in the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM).

Marcos and the Philippine delegation, including First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, arrived at the Don Mueang International Airport at around 6 p.m. (Philippine time) onboard PR 001.

The President will start his APEC debut tomorrow, Nov. 17.

He will be engaging with other leaders on how to tackle food and energy security and the economic inclusion of the country’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), among others.

He said he also looks forward to unlocking economic potential, digitalizing the country’s participation in the digital economy, pushing sustainable development, as well as addressing the climate change crisis.

Aside from his attendance at the APEC meetings, the President and the First Lady are expected to meet King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana, who granted a royal audience for the APEC leaders and spouses.

The chief executive will also meet with Thai business leaders on the sidelines of the APEC gathering and will have bilateral meetings with some economic leaders and heads of state to discuss the strengthening of diplomatic relations.

During his stay, Marcos will also meet with the Filipino community here.

APEC remains one of the Philippines' prime platforms to engage the economies in the Asia-Pacific region, according to the President.

Pacific-rim economies host 38 percent of the world’s population, 48 percent of regional trade, and 62 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP).

It also has the largest concentration of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), with the Philippine regional trade accounting for 85 percent, which provides Filipino consumers access to goods and services from the region.

It also gives Filipino farmers, laborers, businessmen, and MSMEs a robust export market for their goods and services.