President Duterte Calls for Vaccine Cooperation, Joins APEC Leaders in Unveiling New APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040 

PASAY CITY 23 November 2020 – President Rodrigo Roa Duterte joined fellow leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in unveiling the new APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040 during the 2020 APEC Economic Leaders Meeting (AELM), organized by APEC 2020 Host economy Malaysia, via virtual platform on 20 November 2020.

President Duterte encouraged stronger international cooperation to fight the pandemic, urging other leaders “to strengthen partnerships to make vaccines a global public good." The President further called on APEC members to "ensure the unimpeded flow of medical supplies and technologies."

The leaders also witnessed the handover of chairing of 2021 APEC meetings to New Zealand, accepted by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

President Duterte was accompanied by DFA Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr., DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez, NEDA Director-General Karl Kendrick Chua, Philippines APEC Senior Official and Undersecretary Lourdes Yparraguirre  and other DFA and DTI officials.END