Najib leads delegation to APEC meet

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will be leading the Malaysian delegation to the 23rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders Meeting (AELM) in Manila, the Philippines on Nov 18 and 19.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement today, said the 23rd AELM would be chaired by Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III.

The ministry said at the Leaders Retreat Sessions on Nov 19, the leaders from 21 APEC economies will deliberate on APECs 2015 priorities as outlined by the Philippines.

Under the theme Building Inclusive Economies, Building a Better World, discussions will focus on two sessions namely Inclusive Growth through Integrated Economies as well as Inclusive Growth through Sustainable and Resilient Communities.

In the first retreat, the leaders will discuss the vision for regional economic integration against the backdrop of the Asia Pacific economy, given the respective economies' different levels of development and domestic policies.

At the second retreat, the leaders will also focus on the human and societal dimensions of APEC work such as actions to address income disparity and inequity, access to food, water and other issues.

The Prime Minister is expected to hold several bilateral meetings with his counterparts on the margins of the Summit, to discuss bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest.

The AELM, an annual Summit, is regarded as one of the major platforms to discuss regional economic cooperation, trade and investment which can simultaneously strengthen bilateral relations among member economies.

Najib will be accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, International Trade and Industry Ministry Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, Second International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan, as well as senior officials from the relevant ministries and agencies.

The AELM was preceded by the 27th APEC Ministerial Meeting on Nov 16 and 17, 2014 and the 27th APEC Concluding Senior Officials Meeting on Nov 13 and 14, 2015.

Established in 1989, APECs three main objectives are to develop and strengthen the multilateral trading system, to increase the interdependence and prosperity of member economies, and to promote sustainable economic growth.