P-Noy off to Hawaii, Bali next month

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino will attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Honolulu, Hawaii and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders’ Summit in Bali, Indonesia next month.

The Palace has not yet disclosed the complete details of the trips. The APEC secretariat has sent an advisory that the meeting will be on Nov. 11 to 13, while the ASEAN Summit in Bali will be on Nov. 17 to 19.

APEC brings together members of 21 economies from the Asia-Pacific Region. Its agenda will focus on issues including energy, trade and transportation.

The ASEAN Summit is an annual meeting held by members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in relation to economic and cultural development of Southeast Asian countries.

Various issues are set to be discussed, including the “ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations,” the Agreement on the establishment of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance in disaster management (AHA Centre), ASEAN Connectivity in relation to the establishment of an ASEAN Community by 2015 and the participation of external partners, among others.