APEC provides opportunity for talks between Aquino, Chinese President Xi

President Aquino and Chinese President Xi Jinping will have an opportunity to talk about bilateral issues as they will be seated together during the regional assembly next week. The encounter between the two leaders will be made possible due to the “troika,” a seating arrangement among Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) hosts during the annual gathering, according to Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr. “Oh yes, definitely, because China was the previous host,” Paynor, director general of the APEC 2015 National Organizing Council, said in a news conference at the APEC International Media Center in Pasay City when asked about the possible pull-aside meeting between the two Asian leaders. “We have what we call a troika and this is a normal practice amongst APEC economies who are hosting. Usually in the middle is the host, previous host, future host and that’s the so-called troika and normally they are seated together,” he added. [...]