Palace: No signs Xi Jinping will snub APEC in Manila

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang expressed confidence on Wednesday that Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Manila this month.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said China has yet to confirm Xi's attendance to the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting (AELM) "but there are no indications that he will not go."

"Thus far, their home office has been working with us kasi may mga advance visits po 'yan, may mga advance teams. They are all represented," Valte said in a press briefing.

Considered as APEC's biggest event, the AELM will be held on November 18 and 19 in Metro Manila and will be attended by President Benigno Aquino III and 20 other heads of state.

Valte said more than 10 leaders have confirmed their attendance. Earlier, Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras said that Russian President Vladimir Putin and all other leaders except for Xi have confirmed attendance at the APEC summit.

In an interview with reporters in Eastern Samar on Friday, Aquino said there is no reason to relate the West Philippine Sea dispute with Xi's decision to attend the APEC summit.

"Bahagi lang itong usapan na ito (sea dispute) sa relasyon natin sa Tsina. Siguro naman ay hindi magiging kabuuan ng desisyon nila ay dahil dito sa isang bahagi lang," Aquino said.

Aquino said he is open to hold a possible bilateral meeting with the Chinese leader if he attends the Manila event.

The president said he would want to discuss stability with Xi.

"All our governments are supposed to be there for the improvement of the lot of our people, improvement in their lives, and this can only happen if there’s stability. So if there is a central message that would be that I would want to convey," Aquino said in a forum with foreign media correspondents last week.