3 more trips for Noy this year

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino will attend the Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) in Indonesia this week and leave for two more foreign trips next month.

Aquino will also attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ summit in Beijing and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Myanmar.

The BDF is an annual event that outgoing Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono initiated in 2008 to foster regional and international cooperation in peace and democracy.

In 2012, 12 world leaders and representatives from 81 countries and international organizations attended the forum.

Now on its seventh year, the event has become a premier forum for countries in the region to share views, ideas and lessons on democracy.

In Brussels last month, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said Aquino was ready to attend the APEC summit in Beijing amid the two countries’ disagreements over the West Philippine Sea.

Del Rosario said Aquino received an invitation to the event, which the country will host next year.

He said there was no reason why the Philippines should be absent from the APEC summit.

The ASEAN leaders’ summit and related meetings with dialogue partners will be held mid-November in Myanmar’s capital, Naypyitaw.

The ASEAN dialogue partners include Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States.

Last month, Aquino went on a four-nation trip to Europe and the United States.