MANILA -- Philippine President Benigno Aquino III left Friday morning for Myanmar to attend the closing plenary of the 22nd World Economic Forum (WEF) East Asia Summit and to personally invite the delegates of WEF to the Philippines next year.

In his departure message, Aquino said that his attendance to WEF was more meaningful because of the Philippines' hosting of WEF in 2014.

He said he will ask other leaders and businessmen not to waste opportunity to join in the booming economy of the Philippines.

Aquino said he will also hold meetings with Myanmar President U Thein Sein and Aung San Suu Kyi, chairperson and general secretary of the opposition National League for Democracy.

"We hope to have meaningful exchanges of ideas with the said leaders," he said.