Aquino off to Japan for APEC meet

(Updated 5:04 p.m.) President Benigno Simeon Aquino III flew to Japan on Thursday afternoon for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit with the promise that his trip will create more opportunities for Filipinos. In his departure statement, Aquino said he will again convey the message that the Philippines is "open for business," the same message he shared in his previous trips to the United States and Vietnam, to encourage businessmen to invest in the country. "I am confident that we will bring back with us, as we have from our previous trips abroad, more opportunities for our people, stronger commitments from our allies, and greater recognition among the community of nations," Aquino said. "Our participation in APEC is an opportunity to project the Philippines to the international community. We have not had this esteem in almost a decade. But now, we are out of darkness, it is daylight in the Philippines, and we have recovered our voice on the world stage," he added. Aquino boarded Philippine Airlines PR 432 with some members of his 51-member delegation, which includes Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Energy Secretary Rene Almendras, Presidential Management Staff head Julia Abad, and Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning head Ricky Carandang. Among those who saw off the president at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport were Vice President Jejomar Binay, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, and Presidential Communications Operations Office head Sonny Coloma. Agenda in Japan Upon his arrival in Japan, Aquino will proceed to Okura Hotel in Tokyo for an overnight stay before he departs for Yokohama for the APEC Leaders' Meeting, according to a Malacañang press release. While in Tokyo, he will have meetings with officials of the Itochu Corporation, Marubeni Corporation, and Toshiba Corporation. Aquino had previously said he hopes that meetings with Japanese businessmen would bring in more investments to the Philippines. In Yokohama, Aquino will stay at the Pan Pacific Yokohama Hotel. He will attend the assembly for the APEC CEO summit at the Royal Park Hotel. Aquino will have a private dinner with Governor Shintaro Ishihara at the Imaha, Asakusa Hotel in Tokyo. The Palace statement said Aquino will hold a bilateral meeting with Canada at the Intercontinental Yokohama Grand Hotel. Afterwards, he will attend the Welcome Working Lunch for Leaders organized by Japanese government. Aquino will also attend the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Dialogue Leaders at the Pacifico Yokohama Convention Center. APEC leaders will be divided into five groups for the discussions. Aquino will be in Group 2, along with with President Hu Jintao of China, President Alan Garcia of Peru, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore. Aquino's confirmed bilateral meetings are with Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada, President Sebastian Piñera of Chile, Prime Minister Michael Somare of Papua New Guinea, Prime Minister Naoto Kan of Japan. The Philippine government is also seeking bilateral meetings with the heads of China, Indonesia, and the United States but these have yet to be finalized. Aside from the APEC-related activities, Aquino will meet with the representatives of the Filipino community during his visit to the Yokohama Futaba High School. There are around 300,000 Filipino workers in Japan. The expenses of Aquino and his delegation are estimated to be around P16.34 million, including accommodations, transportation, food and commercial airfares. Aquino and his delegation are set to fly back to Manila on Monday morning. — RSJ, GMANews.TV