Aquino is also expected to push for closer economic and security cooperation among members of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) when he attends the summit in Yokohama, Japan. The President's third journey abroad will start on November 11 and end on November 15.

Secretary Herminio Coloma of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) said that the President would first rally support for a free trade zone that would include all 21 economies of APEC amid a faltering global economic recovery. The Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP) would supposedly benefit the country in the form of enhanced trade and investments as well as job generation.

The President will also cite the need for “balanced, inclusive, sustainable knowledge-based growth” during the APEC leaders’ meeting, Coloma said. Such economic development considers the closing of the gap between the rich and the poor and between advanced and developed countries, protection of the environment and natural resources, and use of new technology to speed up progress, he added.

Another issue that will be taken up by the President at the APEC assembly is human security. Coloma said this issue involves counter-terrorism measures, counter-insurgency, disaster preparedness, promotion of food security, and prevention of infectious diseases.

The fourth and last agenda of the President is to strengthen the capacity of APEC member-economies to implement these programs through economic and technical cooperation.

Genalyn Kabiling, GMA News TV