The APEC economic leaders began their summit session after Russian President Vladimir Putin, who arrived in Bali on Monday noon, joined his counterparts.
Upon arriving at Bali`s Ngurah Rai International Airport, Putin was directly driven to the APEC summit venue, where he received a big surprise from other APEC leaders on his 61st birthday.
The birthday song was sung for Putin, accompanied by the rendition on the guitar by President Yudhoyono.
In his opening address, President Yudhoyono stressed the importance of APEC`s role in the development of the region`s economy amid the uncertain economic conditions.
"APEC is increasingly playing an important role in the economic recovery of the Asia-Pacific region. The Asia-Pacific economy will maintain the global economic growth," said the president.
He quoted IMF`s data that economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region is estimated to grow by 6.3 percent in 2013 and 6.6 percent in 2014.
APEC is an economic cooperation forum with 21 member economies in the Asia-Pacific region. It aims to promote free trade in the region. The forum was first opened in 1989.
The Bali summit is the second of its kind hosted by Indonesia. Indonesia hosted the APEC summit in Bogor in 1994.
Earlier, President Yudhoyono, who was accompanied by First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, officially greeted the leaders of the 21 APEC member economies on Monday at 8:20 a.m. local time.
The APEC leaders present at the meet and greet included Australia`s Tony Abbott, followed by Brunei Darussalam`s Hasanal Bolkiah, the President of Chile Sebastian Pinera, the Chief Executive of Hong Kong China C.Y. Leung, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the President of Peru Ollanta Humala, the President of Mexico Enrique Pena Nieto, the Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper, the President of China Xi Jinping, New Zealand`s Prime Minister John Key, and the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea Peter Charles Paire O`Neill.
In addition, President Yudhoyono also welcomed Philippines` President Benigno S Aquino III, the Prime Minister of Thailand Yingluck Shinawatra, the Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong, the President of Vietnam Truong Tan Sang, the President of South Korea Park Geun-hye, and China Taipei`s Representative Vincent Siew.
The United States was represented by Trade Minister Penny Pritzker during the greeting session. (A014/BSR/B003)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
