GYEONGJU, South Korea — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has invited South Korean President Lee Jae Myung to visit the Philippines as the two leaders reaffirmed the strong ties between Manila and Seoul during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the APEC 2025 Economic Leaders Meeting.

In his opening remarks, Lee recalled the Philippines’ contribution to South Korea during the Korean War.

Before concluding their meeting, Marcos extended an invitation to the South Korean leader.

“I believe that these continuing exchanges are much improved by the people-to-people relationship at every level. And so before I go any further, Mr. President, I would like to invite you to come and visit us in the near future,” he said.

President Lee responded positively. “I fully agree, and I will try to visit the Philippines sometime,” he said.

“The Republic of Korea and the Philippines are very special friends. During a national crisis, the Philippines sent its military to aid us. The people of Korea will never forget the contributions, dedication, and sacrifices made by the Philippines,” Lee said.

He said both countries have maintained close relations built on cooperation and mutual support.

“Our two countries have maintained a very close relationship of cooperation and support, and we have mutually helped each other out over the years. But I hope that through your visit, we will be able to take that to another level and have much closer cooperation,” he said.

Marcos, in response, congratulated Lee on the successful hosting of APEC 2025 and reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to strengthening its strategic partnership with South Korea.

“I recall the outcomes already that we have seen since our phone conversation, when I was able to congratulate Your Excellency on your ascension to your position, where we reaffirmed our two countries’ commitment to our strategic partnership,” Marcos said.

The President cited the strong ties between Filipinos and Koreans, including their cooperation in defense, security, and humanitarian assistance.

“From, as you have mentioned, fighting side-by-side during the war, to providing assistance in times of calamities, protecting the rights, and welfare of our nationals,” he said.

Marcos also highlighted ongoing milestones such as the bilateral free trade agreement and upcoming regional cooperation efforts under the Philippines’ ASEAN chairship next year.

“Next year, the Philippines will chair the ASEAN summits, and I see a real opportunity for us to promote a rules-based order, a more secure and more prosperous region,” he said.

Fair trade, digital cooperation pushed

Mr. Marcos also urged Asia-Pacific leaders to uphold open trade, strengthen regional cooperation, and ensure that economic growth remains inclusive and sustainable as he delivered his intervention during the first session of the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting.

Speaking before fellow heads of state at the Hwabaek Convention Center, Marcos called for the restoration of the World Trade Organization’s dispute settlement mechanism, saying that smaller economies rely on a rules-based system to be able to compete fairly.

“Without a functioning dispute settlement mechanism, small economies would be at a disadvantage. For small economies, rules are a potent equalizer,” Marcos said.

He also pressed the APEC members to advance “new and forward-looking disciplines” to boost trade in the digital era, support e-commerce, and modernize investment regulations.

On sustainability, Marcos emphasized the need to push agriculture and fisheries negotiations to strengthen food security and ensure that trade remains a driver of shared progress. He said the Philippines supports reforms that would make supply chains more resilient through digitalization, regulatory efficiency, and workforce upskilling.

The President also highlighted the role of public-private partnerships (PPP) in advancing APEC’s sustainability and infrastructure goals, citing the Philippine PPP Code of 2023 as a model for regional collaboration.

“This landmark legislation embodies our commitment to creating an enabling environment where private enterprises can actively contribute to development,” Marcos said.

He further urged the APEC economies to invest in women, youth, and MSMEs, noting that closing the gender gap and empowering small businesses are critical to regional prosperity.

He expressed support for APEC’s new initiatives, including the “Incheon Plan,” which builds on the Philippines’ Cebu Action Plan of 2015, to promote innovation, fiscal stability, and climate resilience.

“The Philippines stands ready to work with all APEC economies to uphold an open, connected, and future-ready region,” Marcos said.

The two-day summit, themed “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow: Connect, Innovate, Prosper,” brings together leaders from 21 APEC economies to discuss digital transformation, trade, and economic resilience.

President Marcos emphasized the vital role of the Philippines’ participation in the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders Meeting in driving inclusive growth, boosting trade and investment, and expanding opportunities for Filipino workers.

Marcos, speaking before members of the Filipino community in Busan, said the APEC summit, set in Gyeongju, focuses on strategies to accelerate economic recovery, promote sustainable development, and empower small and medium enterprises.

“For the Philippines, APEC is a great help. In APEC, discussions are held on how to make it easier for businesses to enter,” Marcos said.