Beijing (People's Daily) - President Xi Jinping will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2018 meeting and visit Papua New Guinea, Brunei and the Philippines from November 15-21, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday. 

President Xi Jinping at the 2014 APEC meeting in Beijing. (File photo: Xinhua)

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said that at the invitation of Papua New Guinea (PNG)’s Governor-General Bob Dadae and Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, Xi will have state visits to the three countries from November 15 to 21 and meet the leaders of the Pacific island countries in Papua New Guinea.

Meanwhile, at the invitation of Papua New Guinea’s prime minister, Xi will attend the 26th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Port Moresby, held concurrently with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation 2018 on Saturday and Sunday.

The overarching theme for the event is “Harnessing inclusive opportunities, embracing the digital future.”

Based in Singapore, APEC is recognized as the oldest forum and highest-level multilateral bloc in the Asia-Pacific region, and it exerts a significant global influence.

It will be the first time for Papua New Guinea to host the event.