Useful and productive.
This was how President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. described the recently concluded 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Meeting in Thailand, saying the future for the organization's members is now clearer.
Marcos said this during his arrival statement at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City late Saturday, November 19.
In his speech, the President reported a "fruitful" outcome of his participation in the event, where he said he advanced the country's interest in various fora.
"We discussed with the other leaders all of the issues that our countries have been facing and are facing and what possible solutions we have for the problems we see that are upcoming," he said.
"The problems, as we have identified, seem to be the same problems for most of the countries. We have consonance of views and analysis on the things that are to be of concern," he added.
"It was a very useful and productive process. Because, as I said, we have now a way forward for all of us members of APEC," he continued.
Among the agreements were putting direction to APEC's economic development and ramping up efforts in the fight against climate change.
Marcos also had bilateral meetings with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, France, Australia, New Zealand, and China.
"It's not just the ASEAN but all of these other countries around the Pacific. It was really very much a world forum," he pointed out.
"They now know me. They know what I'm about. We've discussed... they know what the Philippine position is on several issues," he added.
During the business meetings by the President, particularly at the APEC CEO Summit, he expressed his views on the present global economic conditions and the country's policies to improve its economy.
"We have much to do to play our part in APEC, and we will undertake all that so that we will contribute to the success of this region," the President said.
"In terms of the economies, the ultimate aspiration is for the APEC region, Asia Pacific region, to return to its old role as a driver of the global economy. And if we do all of the things that we are planning to do, that will come back again. And we once again will be at the forefront of the global economy," Marcos added.
President Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos also met the Royal Family in Thailand, thanking its members for giving a warm reception.
Before flying to the Philippines, the chief executive had a Filipino Community Meet-and-Greet.
There are more than 30,000 Filipinos in Thailand, mostly working as English teachers and as employees in the Kingdom's hospitality industry.