BANGKOK, Nov 17 — World leaders have started arriving in Thailand on Thursday, ahead of the 29th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) in Bangkok where leaders will discuss how to advance the region towards a sustainable and inclusive economic recovery from Covid-19.
The AELM in Bangkok is the group’s first in-person summit in four years.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Soutand h Korean Prime Minister Han Duck Soo are among the leaders who arrived here Thursday to attend the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting and pay a visit to Thailand.
The others who arrived Thursday are Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. Malaysia will be represented by the Special Representative of Malaysian Prime Minister, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali who also arrived on Thursday.
The summit under the theme ‘Open. Connect. Balance.’ will be held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) in Bangkok.
Earlier, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan o-cha at a pre-summit business event said APEC’s priorities were guided by the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy that Thailand introduced as a recovery strategy from Covid-19, and a blueprint for long-term growth that is more balanced, sustainable and inclusive.
“The BCG Economy synergises bio-circular and green economic approaches, utilising new technologies and innovation to create value, increase resource efficiency and promote environmental sustainability,” he said at the 2022 APEC CEO Summit.
On the sidelines, Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to have bilateral talks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida today.
Tonight the leaders and representatives attend the Gala Dinner hosted by Prayuth at the Royal Thai Navy Conference Hall. On Friday, the APEC leaders are to attend the 29th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) Retreat and APEC Leaders’ Informal Dialogue on Promoting Sustainable Trade and Investment between APEC and its Trading Partners.
The leaders and representatives will attend Dialogue with APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) members.
The APEC economic leaders will also have an audience with Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
At the end of the AELM, the leaders are expected to endorse the 2022 APEC Economic Leaders’ Declaration as well as adopt the Bangkok Goals on Bio Circular-Green Economy which will chart the region’s path towards sustainable and inclusive growth.
— Bernama
