Manila: President Benigno Aquino is scheduled to leave the country to take part in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Leaders’ Week in Russky Island, Vladivostok, Russia from September 2 to 9.

A statement issued by the presidential palace in Manila said joining Aquino in the leaders’ meeting in Russia would be Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert del Rosario, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo and Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima.

Apec , an increasingly important bloc, is made up of 21 economies located in the Asia-Pacific sphere, including China, the US, Russia, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, among others.

“At the 20th Apec Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM), the leaders will discuss four priorities set by the host, Russia, for 2012,” the statement said.

These priorities were identified as trade and investment liberalisation and regional economic integration; strengthening food security; establishing reliable supply chains, and cooperation to foster innovative growth.

Aquino is also expected to take part in the Apec Business Advisory Council (ABAC) dialogue, which is a key feature of the AELM.

This dialogue gives ABAC members the opportunity to meet with the APEC Leaders to discuss the entire year’s ABAC work programmes and to raise issues of pressing concern to the participants.

The Apec meeting will also serve as an opportunity for Aquino to meet with his Chinese counterpart. Laura del Rosario, Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs, said the Philippines’ president has requested a meeting with the Chinese leader Hu Jintao.

Del Rosario said the focus of the bilateral meeting between Hu and Aquino will be the dispute concerning both countries’ conflicting claims over islands in the South China Sea (West Philippines Sea)

Del Rosario said the talks between Hu and Aquino will mainly be confined to economic dimensions of the dispute.

“Definitely, yes, we expect the Spratly issue, the West Philippine Sea or the South China Sea issue to come up somewhere in the bilaterals,” Del Rosario was quoted in reports as saying as she referred to a group of islands claimed by several countries as part of their territory.

Hosted by the Russian Federation, Apec 2012 is working under the motto “Integrate to Grow, Innovate to Prosper”.

This year, ABAC has adopted the theme “Aspirations to Reality” The 2012 work programme builds on the achievements of the past year by continuing the focus on regional economic integration, SMME and entrepreneurship and sustainable growth, with particular emphasis on the key areas of transportation and logistics, technology transfer and green development and eco-cities.

Apec member economies account for approximately 40 per cent of the world’s population, approximately 54 per cent of world gross domestic product (GDP) and about 44 per cent of world trade.