MANILA, Philippines – Even as Russian President Vladimir Putin skipped the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev arrived on Wednesday morning in his stead.
Medvedev arrived around 8 a.m at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Medvedev is scheduled to head to the APEC CEO Summit at Makati Shangri-la for a dialogue.
LIVE COVERAGE: APEC 2015 meetings in Manila
Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev arrives in Manila on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015. Video courtesy of RTVM
Reports said Putin preferred Medvedev’s attendance at the APEC as he is also expected to meet with officials of Malaysia and Cambodia. He is slated to attend the Association of South East Asian Nation Summit in Kuala, Lumpur on November 21 to 22 and a working visit to Cambodia from November 23 to 24.
Putin earlier confirmed hishis attended at the APEC but later on decided decided to miss this week’s meeting in Manila supposedly due to domestic concerns. The Russian president attended the G-20 Leaders’ Summit in Antalya, Turkey.
Prior to becoming the head of Russian government, Medvedev served as the third president of Russia from 2008 to 2012. He is the tenth prime minister of Russia.