Leaders must move freely during Apec: Hawkins

By HELEN TARAWA
IT is important that the movement of leaders between venues during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in November is not disrupted or delayed, an official says.
“There will be a movement of leaders in motorcades from their hotels or from the airport to go to APEC Haus,” said Apec Coordinating Authority chief executive Chis Hawkins.
“It’s a highly orchestrated movement of leaders arriving at 90-second intervals in alphabetic order.”
He said the leaders must be able to get to the venues on time and get out in a similar way.
The senior officials’ meeting at the International Convention Centre will start on Monday, Nov 12, and continues on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, ministers will arrive but there will be no meetings.
Hawkins said Thursday (Nov 14) to Sunday (Nov 18) would be the busiest time for the leaders. It is why they will be declared public holidays to restrict the movement of people.
“During this period, the primary roads will be shut down,” he said.
The leaders will meet representatives of the Apec Business Advisory Council group from each economy on Saturday, Nov 17. PNG’s David Toua, Wayne Golding and Isikeli Taureka will present the Abac representatives’ report to the leaders at APEC Haus.
Saturday will provide an opportunity for Apec leaders to meet Pacific Islands leaders.
This will be followed by the Apec economic leaders meeting, a gala dinner and cultural performance at the Hilton Hotel.
The dinner and cultural performances which will be televised around the world.
The leaders are expected to leave around 3pm on Sunday Nov 18 “depending on when the meeting break. Most of them will go straight to the airport to (board) their aircraft”, Hawkins said.
He said there would also be the State visit by the President of China Xi Jinping.
“The visit is a big event, a lot of cars and a lot of people particularly for an economy the size of China and with their president. Thursday and Friday will see a lot of interruptions to roads, traffic. That’s why there will be public holidays.”
The leaders will be attending a retreat on Sunday from the morning to the afternoon.