President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is en route to Busan, South Korea, for the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting, where he’s expected to push for stronger trade, investment, and technology partnerships across the region.
Marcos departed from Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Thursday afternoon, traveling with a delegation of government officials and business leaders. After touching down in Busan, he will meet with members of the Filipino community before joining high-level APEC engagements.
Marcos will deliver a keynote address at the APEC CEO Summit, sharing the stage with major players like Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, CATL chair Zeng Yuqun, and senior leaders from Korean giants Samsung, LG, SK, and Hyundai Motor.
His message: The Philippines is ready to become a “reliable, forward-looking partner” in supply chains and innovation.
The President says the country is doubling down on strategic sectors such as:
- Semiconductors & advanced manufacturing
- Green and renewable energy
- Digital transformation
“We fully recognize the potential of new technologies to unlock a more prosperous and resilient future,” Marcos said before departing.
He is also slated to hold private meetings with executives in priority industries and a bilateral discussion with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on Friday — the first such meeting since Manila and Seoul elevated their ties to a Strategic Partnership last year.
Honoring History
Marcos’ itinerary includes a tribute to the 7,420 Filipino troops who served in the Korean War, through a wreath-laying and tree-planting ceremony at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan.
Global Spotlight on Trump–Xi Meeting
Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions loom large over the summit, with U.S. President Donald Trump and China’s Xi Jinping holding a high-stakes discussion in Busan ahead of APEC’s opening.
Marcos acknowledged that the outcome of the Trump–Xi meeting could shape the tone of this year’s economic talks:
“The results of those meetings will color and influence everything that we will be doing in APEC.”
No immediate details were released following their closed-door session, as Trump reportedly departed South Korea shortly after.
Who’s Running Things at Home?
While the President is abroad, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin leads a three-man caretaker team that also includes:
- DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III
- DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara
As regional leaders converge in Busan, all eyes remain on how the Philippines positions itself amid shifting global alliances — and whether Marcos can secure investments that drive the nation closer to a tech-powered economic future.
