Chinese president ‘sure’ to meet Philippine counterpart, thanks — APEC Manila

Before the start of the function, or the APEC Business Advisory Council Women’ Luncheon, all participants stood up and observed a one-minute silence for the tragedy.

Jose said in his statement as quoted by The Philippine Star, “The Chinese Embassy in Manila has confirmed that the Chinese Foreign Ministry has officially announced this morning that Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting in Manila”.

The global menace of terrorism will also be an unwanted talking point after gunmen massacred more than 120 people in a series of coordinated attacks in Paris on Friday.

French President Francois Hollande declared a state of emergency across the country following the deadly attacks.

Philippine APEC Security planners are now seriously looking into this recent incident to ensure security preparations are appropriately upgraded.

She said her Chinese counterparts have been very cooperative in Philippine initiative in services because services already form a big part of China’s GDP. When you have prepared for quite a long time, your only concern would be the people you put on the ground would deliver as trained, as prepared for we remain confident that we could weather any security challenges for our APEC hosting.

China had insisted repeatedly in the lead-up to the summit that the South China Sea dispute was not relevant to the trade talks.

Golez argued that the waterway has been a vital shipping route in the world, which is why ensuring freedom of navigation in the area is not just a security matter but also an economic matter.

According to Del Rosario, during this year’s APEC summit, member economies will try to settle on framework on services and proposed roadmap for services competitiveness.

APEC has usually stuck to discussing economic matters only while avoiding discussions of thornier political issues.

Anti-riot police guard the premises outside the Sofitel where US President Barrack Obama will stay. The APEC meetings will be held from November 16 to 20.

APEC has 21 member-economies, but Russian President Vladimir Putin is skipping the meeting.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo waits for Finnish President Sauli Niinisto at the presidential palace in Jakarta November 3, 2015.