PORT MORESBY, Nov 16 — Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will likely push for fair trade for emerging economies at the upcoming Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit here, Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said today.

The foreign minister pointed out that at the recent Asean summit in Singapore, Dr Mahathir had supported calls for free trade but emphasised that it must also be fair to developing countries.

“And his call was for people to understand that there are different levels of economies in Asean. Some people think Asean is like EU where everyone is on the same level, but Asean is not like that.

“So you can expect Tun will bring the same issues to this meeting,” Saifuddin told a press conference at the Papua New Guinea capital, referring to Dr Mahathir.

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Dr Mahathir will also touch on the fourth industrial revolution, in line with Apec 2018’s theme “Harnessing inclusive opportunities, embracing the digital future”, said Saifuddin.

The prime minister is scheduled to arrive tonight.

Dr Mahathir will attend the 26th Apec Economic Leaders’ Meeting this weekend in Papua New Guinea, the poorest nation in the 21-member Apec bloc, which will see participation from leaders of all 21 member states.

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The other member nations are Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam.

Dr Mahathir last attended the Apec Economic Leaders’ Meeting in 2003 in Bangkok, Thailand, the final year of his previous stint as prime minister.

He will also deliver the keynote address at the Apec CEO Summit titled “The future of economic growth”, a gathering of business leaders from the Asia-Pacific region.

The Malaysian prime minister, together with other Apec leaders, is also scheduled to meet with the Apec Business Advisory Council and participate in the Apec Leaders’ Dialogue with Pacific Island Leaders.

Dr Mahathir will then hold three bilateral meetings — with Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam.

Saifuddin added that Dr Mahathir will meet members of the United States Business Coalition.

He said Dr Mahathir is also due to visit the Hohola Mosque here, which was established in 2001, to build relations with the Muslim community in Papua New Guinea, an island state in the south-western Pacific Ocean with over 700 native tongues.

“Tun was instrumental in the building of the mosque,” Saifuddin explained.

He said Malaysia pledged a contribution to the mosque, which Dr Mahathir is set to deliver during this trip.

“What is interesting is that according to the Islamic Society of PNG, the land was originally offered to Tun Dr Mahathir for the purposes of establishing the first mosque in PNG.

“But Tun, in his usual humble way, did not want the mosque to be built by him or named after him, but proposed that the mosque be constructed by the Islamic Society of PNG.

Saifuddin said Dr Mahathir has “very special” relations with Papua New Guinea, particularly with its Muslim society.