Speaker Martin Romualdez on Saturday said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. shone as a savvy international relations leader promoting the Philippines during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation 2022 (APEC) Summit in Bangkok.
He said the President’s efforts to promote the Philippines as an investment hub and advance its regional interests during the APEC Summit are a resounding success, based on what transpired during the event.
Mr. Marcos, he said, was not only able to effectively articulate the Philippine position on pressing global issues but he also established warm relations with fellow heads of state, particularly during the bilateral meetings held on the sidelines of the APEC meeting.
“The points the President has raised during the various APEC sessions resonated Speaker…with other leaders of member economies and attuned with the common objective to revitalize the Asia-Pacific region as the main engine of global economic recovery and growth,” Romualdez said.
Romualdez said former President and now Senior Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is satisfied with President Marcos’ performance in his initial outing at the APEC Summit held in Thailand.
“You could see GMA there literally cheering him on and we would see how delighted she was with his performance and the crowd itself was applauding our President for his very, very clear-cut answers, and very incisive,” Romualdez said.
The Speaker was referring to the panel discussion in the APEC CEO Summit where World Economic Forum founder Prof. Klaus Schwab and Global Chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited Robert Moritz, were seen nodding in agreement most of the time with the insights and points raised by President Marcos.
“Considering these successful diplomatic initiatives and investment pledges the President secured from Thai business, we can definitely say that his participation in the APEC Summit is a resounding success,” Romualdez said.
On Saturday, President Marcos called on APEC leaders to tackle climate change, food security and other challenges for the group to build the economic future that it wants.
“APEC has done remarkable work in embedding a sustainability agenda as part of its vision and action plan. We should act swiftly to set it in motion,” the President said in his intervention during the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) Retreat Session II.
“We need to take concrete steps towards modern and resilient agriculture. Food is not just a trade commodity, it is not a livelihood, it is a survival imperative, it is a moral imperative. It is the very basis of human security,” Mr. Marcos said.
“To attain food self-sufficiency and security, we are providing innovative solutions and financial support to farmers and fisherfolk to adopt new technologies and connect to national and global value supply chains,” the Philippine leader added.