Aquino off to Bali today for democracy forum

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino leaves today for Indonesia to join other heads of state attending a two-day Democracy Forum on the island of Bali.

This will also be his first opportunity to meet the new Indonesian President Joko Widodo, more popularly known as “Jokowi,” who was elected last July 22. Widodo succeeded Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who initiated the Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) in 2008.

Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world.

The forum – to be held at the Bali International Convention Center – will be held from Oct. 10 to 11. This annual event aims 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, BDF has become a premier forum for Asian countries to share views, ideas and lessons on democracy.

On Monday, Oct. 13, Aquino will be at the Philippine International Convention Center where he will speak at the 65th Regional Meeting of the World Health Organization. The event will be hosted by the Philippine government.

Aquino will also have at least two more foreign trips before the year ends – the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders’ summit in Beijing, China in November and the 25th Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Myanmar, November.

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.

He said Aquino received an invitation to the event, and there was no reason why the Philippines would be absent from the APEC summit. The Philippines will host the APEC meetings next year.

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