Russian President preparing article to APEC summit - Kremlin spokesman

MOSCOW, November 12. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin will not go to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation /APEC/ summit, which will be held in Philippines on November 18-19, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday, adding that Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev will represent Russia instead. "I can confirm that Prime Minister will represent Russia at APEC summit in Manila /Philippines/," Peskov said. Spokesman also said Medvedev plans other visits in South-Eastern Asia. "In this respect from the viewpoint of optimization of schedules of the country's top leadership President has made a decision not to go that far together with the Premier with literally 1-2 days difference," he said. Peskov added that Russian President traditionally pays much attention to APEC summit and its agenda. "An article written by President focusing on APEC summit agenda and cooperation in the Asian-Pacific region in general is being prepared. It will be published before summit in leading media of APEC countries," Kremlin spokesman said. It’s not common practice to change structures of delegations. In 2012, President Putin also delegated Prime Minister Medvedev to the annual meeting of G8 leaders in the United States as he was engaged in forming the new Cabinet of ministers. Other leaders also sometimes resort to swaps, for example, the US President Barack Obama did not visit APEC summit in Russia in 2012 as the event coincided with the Democratic Party’s convention. Read more