By Priam F. Nepomuceno
MANILA, Nov. 17 (PNA) — US President Barack Obama arrived in the Philippines Tuesday to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ meeting.
Obama was flown in by Air Force One which landed at 11:45 a.m. at the Villamor Airbase.
He was welcomed by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg.
He was secured by members of the US Secret Service who hurriedly transported him to a waiting V-22 “Osprey” tilt-rotor aircraft to the US Embassy in Manila.
The United States joined APEC on Nov. 6-7, 1989.
The Philippines is the host of APEC Summit this year, which aims to promote inclusive growth in domestic/national, regional and macro levels in the Asia-Pacific region.
Aside from the United States, the other member economies are: China, Japan, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Korea, Chile, Peru, Singapore, Hong Kong-China, Chinese Taipei, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, Mexico and the Philippines. (PNA)