President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos is greeted by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung as he arrives at the Hwabaek International Convention Center for the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea. The Philippines is South Korea's oldest ASEAN partner. (APEC KOREA 2025/Yonhap News)
GYEONGJU, South Korea — President Marcos has arrived at the Hwabaek International Convention Center here for the start of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting.
The President arrived at the venue at 9:30 a.m. (South Korean time) on Friday, Oct. 31, and was greeted by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, with whom he will have a bilateral meeting in the afternoon.
Marcos is set to attend the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting Session 1 on Friday morning. The theme of the session is “Towards a More Connected, Resilient Region and Beyond.”
In the afternoon, he will participate in the APEC Economic Leaders’ Dialogue with the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC).
One of the highlights of his day is the APEC CEO Summit, where he is expected to deliver a special address. He earlier described the event as important, as it gathers representatives from Member Economies and top business executives to discuss key economic issues confronting the Region.
“I intend to showcase the Philippines' commitment to fostering economic partnerships and promoting a favorable business climate, aligned with our government’s vision of building a strong, innovation-driven economy,” Marcos said Thursday.
“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 prosperous and more resilient future,” he added.
The President will cap the day with his attendance at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Gala Dinner also in Gyeongju.