Putin Arrives In Bali For APEC Summit

Nusa Dua, Bali, Oct 7 (Antara) - Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived at the Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali on Monday to attend the 2013 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit on October 7 and 8, which is being held in Bali. The Russian presidential plane landed at around 12:15 pm (GMT +8) and was greeted by a number of Indonesian officials and delegates. Wearing a white shirt and a suit with a maroon tie, Putin stepped out of the plane and was immediately welcomed by among others the Indonesian Minister of Education and Culture M. Nuh, Indonesian Ambassador to Russia Djauhari Oratmangun, and Bali`s Deputy Police Chief Brigadier General Dewa Anom Police. Putin is scheduled to meet a number of heads of state, including Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, based on his APEC Summit agenda. The Russian President is also scheduled to meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the first day of the event. Previously Putin was also scheduled to meet with the U.S. President Barack Obama at the event, but the meeting was eventually canceled following Obama`s decision to forgo his presence in Bali in view of the ongoing domestic budget crisis in the United States. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who will be representing Obama, is expected meet with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the APEC Summit. Putin`s arrival in Bali is likely to be a special day because the Russian President will be celebrating his 61st birthday today.