PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be leaving for China today, Tuesday, for the Shanghai World Expo 2010, a Palace official said.
Deputy Presidential Spokesman Gary Olivar said Arroyo will be accompanied by a handful Cabinet member that includes Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, Trade Secretary Jesli Lapus, and Press Secretary Crispulo Icban Jr.
He added that the President would also have a “very light” schedule during the visit, which is primarily intended to show the Philippines support for the event.
A statement from the Office of the Press Secretary stated that “Arroyo will meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao to break new grounds in Philippines-China relations and increase friendly exchanges”.
It would be Arroyo and Hu’s first meeting since the controversy of the cancelled national broadband network deal between the Philippine government and China’s ZTE Corporation in October 2007.
Arroyo also is expected to attend ceremonies commemorating the “Sisterhood of the Yushan Mountains in Fujian province and the Chocolate Hills in Bohol,” and the launching of a collection of Filipino children’s stories that had been translated to Chinese.
Icban said Arroyo is set to leave around 5:30 p.m. and arrived in Shanghai around 9 p.m.
Arroyo would have a full schedule on June 9, which includes the National Day commemorative rites at Central Hall of the Expo Center at 11 a.m., and a tour at the China and Philippine Pavilions at 1:30 p.m.
A reception had been by prepared by the Office of the President to the Philippine delegation at 6:30 p.m. which would be followed by the celebration of the 35th year of Philippine-China diplomatic ties at 7:30 p.m.
Arroyo is expected to return to the Philippines around 10 p.m. of Wednesday and arrive in Manila before dawn on June 10.(JMR/Sunnex)