Government preparations for APEC 2015 in full swing

The Philippine government continues to hold council meetings and embassy briefings in preparation for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Meeting in November, the head of the APEC 2015 National Organizing Council (NOC), has said.

APEC 2015 NOC Director General Marciano Paynor, Jr. said there are continuing meetings involving all national organizing council members, various government agencies and embassies.

Paynor said they already had embassy briefings two months ago and they will hold a briefing in July for those coming from different capitals, and another in October.

"Everything is on track and the plans are already laid out. We just have to confer with each of the different economies to ensure that all the leaders... all of their requirements will have been met," he said.

Paynor said they are expecting all 21 leaders of APEC member economies to attend the summit in Manila in November.

He noted that there had been very few times in the past when a leader was not able to attend and usually it is due to the holding of elections.

"In the case of one economy, they are having elections a few months before November, so we are not sure who will come because the current leader will no longer be the leader in November," he said, without identifying the APEC member economy.

"That is usually the case but for the most part, 90 percent of the leaders come," he said. "There is no reason for them not to come."

He explained that the APEC Summit is a multi-lateral meeting and not a bilateral one, and leaders only discuss economic matters and shy away from talks about politics. (PCOO News Release)