Thursday, August 30, 2007
Arroyo off to Kuala Lumpur for bilateral meet (9:16 p.m.)
MANILA -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo left Thursday afternoon for Kuala Lumpur (KL) to join their 50th Independence Day celebration, boost bilateral relations between the Philippines and Malaysia, and check on the conditions of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) there.
Arroyo left the Villamor Airbase at 2 p.m. on board PAL PR-001, together with Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and several lawmakers led by Senate foreign affairs committee chairperson Miriam Defensor-Santiago and House Deputy Speaker for Women Ma. Amelita Villarosa.
The President, in her departure statement, said she would go to Malaysia to "thank the King and government of Malaysia for its help in our quest for peace and to visit our workers who embody the resilient and industrious spirit of the Global Filipino".
"Every diplomatic mission is an occasion to build stronger ties and preserve friendships that can be counted upon when most needed. Always at the heart of such visits is the welfare and future of our OFWs. In Kuala Lumpur, we shall make time to visit and chat with the vibrant and hardworking Filipino community," she said.
Arroyo said she is leaving for Malaysia with so much elation and pride after the Philippine's gross domestic product (GDP) rose to 7.5 percent and the Gross National Product (GNP) to 8.3 percent which resulted in an economic growth of 7.3 percent during the first half of the year.
"As I leave for Malaysia to join the other Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nation) leaders in the 50th anniversary of Malaysia's independence from British rule. We bring this elation and pride to Malaysia, the third largest economy in the region, and second home to thousands of OFWs. I will bring my thanks and congratulations to Filipinos in Malaysia for their contribution to our GNP growth," she said.
She added that she is joining their 50th anniversary, in response to the invitation of their King and government, and in acknowledgement of Malaysia as co-founder in the Asean and co-member in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec).
Arroyo said since the creation of the Asean in 1967, it has now "grown into a dynamic regional bloc and much sought after trading partner across the world".
She also recognized the Philippines' and Malaysia's participation in the 21-nation Apec, which would meet in Australia next week, that has "resulted in greater security for all due to stronger multilateral, regional, and bilateral partnerships between and among Apec members against terrorism."
The President, who is expected to arrive in KL at 5:45 p.m., would first meet with the Filipino community at the Grand Ballroom of the Hotel Nikko in KL at 8 p.m.
On Friday, Arroyo, after a private breakfast, would attend the National Day Parade at the Merdeka Square in KL at 8 a.m. which would be followed by a private lunch and "Hi-Tea hosted by Their Majesties The Yang di-Pertuan Agong and The Raja," Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin and his wife Permaisuri Nur Zahirah at 4 p.m. and a banquet at 6 p.m.
A grand celebration of Malaysia's golden anniversary would start at 9 p.m. and Arroyo would leave for Manila at 12:05 a.m. on September 1 and arrive at 3:55 a.m. (JMR/Sunnex) |
