Prior commitment may bar PBBM’S attendance at WEF
PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. said he is still undecided if he will be able attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Switzerland next year due to existing commitments.
In an interview with reporters last over the weekend, Marcos said he is hesitant from attending the WEF, which will be held in the same month as his scheduled State Visit in China.
“So I am undecided yet. It’s travelling too much. That’s already the end of January. I’m going to China on the third,” Marcos said.
He noted another of this consideration is the state of the country’s readiness to accept additional foreign investments.
“If we are going to ask people to come to the Philippines, who are going to invest in the Philippines, are we ready for them,” Marcos said.
Last Saturday, WEF Founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab invited Marcos to attend the next WEF in Davos, Switzerland during the 40th and 41st Asean Summits and Related Summits in Cambodia
WEF is an annual event held by non-profit organizations attended by political, business, and cultural leaders of society to discuss possible international and industry agenda.
The President has already accepted the invitations for a state visit from the leaders of Vietnam, Brunei, Thailand, and China among others.
But except for China, Malacañang has yet to announce the schedule of the date for the President’s state visit in other countries next year.
“I did not decline [any of the invitations]. I just tell them, let us schedule it when we are both available. That’s down the road. Probably next year, we’ll start honoring those invitations,” the President said.
Marcos also admitted that he barely had enough rest since arriving in Cambodia to attend Asean Summits and meet with the Filipino community in Phnom Penh.
“Well, you know, because what happens—you’re sitting there for what, eight hours, 10 hours, 12 hours, whatever it is. And then you come home, you have to take care of the things that have happened in—back home. So you don’t really go straight to sleep. You don’t really eat properly. But you know, it has to be done. It’s okay. I mean, you know. Nobody died from honest hard work,” the President said.