BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei (via PLDT) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the nine other leaders from the neighboring countries of Southeast Asia today held separate meetings with the heads of government/state of Japan, Korea and China on the final leg of the Seventh Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit here.

In their meeting with Chinese Premier Zhu Rong-ji, the President cited the role of China in keeping the peace and security in East Asia.

The President expressed confidence that China, as a major power in the region, will continue to respect ASEAN and its fundamental values.

The President pointed out during the forum that since the United States is unlikely to be a source of growth in the short term, ASEAN would need to explore other markets and strengthen trade and investment relations with other countries, notably China.

She likewise stated that the study that recommends the forging of closer ASEAN-China economic relations offers a window of opportunity for deepening links to a strong and dynamic partnership.

At the same time, the President proposed that China consider the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) as a long-term supplier of fisheries products, coconut and palm oil, tropical fruits and other food products.

In the area of illegal drugs, the President stressed that national and regional efforts alone will not suffice in dealing effectively with the problem of drug abuse and trafficking.

She suggested ASEAN collaboration with its Dialogue Partners and international organizations, including those in the United Nations (UN) and specialized agencies concerned with illegal drugs.

Towards the end of her statement, the President said that the Philippines looks forward to the successful implementation and the realization of the objectives of the ASEAN and China Cooperative Operations in Response to Dangerous Drugs (ACCORD).

ASEAN is composed of the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The nation’s leaders today called on all the people, of whatever faith or creed, to gather at the Quirino Grandstand at the Rizal Park, go to churches and other places of worship or simply set aside a moment of their time on Saturday, November 10, to pray for national unity and deliverance from the various problems and crises that confront the country.

On that day, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will lead the nation in celebrating "Pambansang Araw ng Panalangin at Pag-ayuno" or National Day of Prayer and Fasting, with the main ceremonies centered at the Quirino Grandstand in the afternoon.

She will also lead the saying of the "Panalanging Bayan" or National Prayer on that day.

Emphasizing that it is not a political rally, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon "Dinky" Soliman, co-chair of the organizing committee, said the prayer event will be participated in by 10 different religious groups (pananampalataya at panalig), national and government employees, members of the business community as well as the civil society.

The program at the Quirino Grandstand will start with the entrance of colors at 4:30 p.m, after which the National Anthem will be sung by choirs of the different churches and faiths.

An interfaith invocation will be delivered by representatives of the Catholic Church, Jesus is Lord, Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches, National Council of Churches of the Philippines, Iglesia ni Cristo, Jesus Miracle Crusade, the Seventh Day Adventist, Muslim Brothers and the Indigenous Group.

During the solemn rites expected to be attended by tens of thousands of people, Senate President Franklin Drilon will lead the Prayer for National Repentance while House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. will lead the Prayer for National Unity. Afterwards, Chief Justice Hilario Davide will lead the Prayer for Return to Holiness of the Nation. 

 Prayers to Lift Up National Intentions will then be made: for peace and justice, by child-victims of violence/kidnapping/terrorism; for healing the wounds of the poor, by Brother Mike Velarde; for security against terrorism by a Muslim leader; against calamities, by an Aeta child; against drugs and crime, by Christopher de Leon; for moral recovery, by five youth leaders; economic recovery, by Guillermo Luz of the Makati Business Club and Alex Aguilar of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines; protection of the overseas Filipino workers, by an OFW family; youth, love of country, taking responsibility, by Fr. Rex Reyes, Jr.; building up of families, by prominent couples; renewal of media, by Sonia Zaldivar-Ronda; leaders’ vision, integrity, unity of purpose, by Brother Eddie Villanueva; and universal solidarity of faiths, by Bishop Yniguez and different leaders of interfaith groups.

These prayers will be intermingled with intermission numbers by artists such as Gary Valenciano, Dulce and Tricia Amper-Jimenez.

After the prayers, the President will deliver her "Call to Action," to be followed by the reading of the Solidarity Statement.

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei (via PLDT) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today welcomed Japan’s valuable contribution to anti-piracy efforts and commended it for its regional initiatives in assisting and collaborating with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in resolving the problem.

In the ASEAN+1 meeting of the 10 ASEAN leaders with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, the President said the region’s response against piracy should move forward from the theoretical to the practical.

She cited in particular the need to strike a balance between national and regional anti-piracy efforts, adding that ASEAN members should have in place their respective national action plans to combat piracy.

Beyond that, she pointed out that ASEAN should consider a regional cooperation scheme to address the issue more effectively.

In the same meeting, the President thanked Japan for its continued efforts in assisting and collaborating with ASEAN to achieve the objectives of ASEAN-Japan information and communications technology cooperation.

The President also took the opportunity to seek Japan’s assistance in developing the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), particularly in support of a joint tuna stock assessment in the Sulu-Sulawesi project since Japan is the main market for yellow fin Sashimi-grade tuna from this area.

Aside from Japan, the President and the nine other ASEAN leaders also met with their counterparts from Korea and China in the final leg of the Seventh ASEAN Leaders’ Summit here.

Among those who joined the President in the ASEAN meeting were Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Press Secretary Noel Cabrera and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Lauro Baja.

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei (via PLDT) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo expressed her appreciation to the Republic of Korea (ROK) for its continuing efforts in assisting the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), particularly in the area of information and communications technology (ICT)

The President made this gesture during the ASEAN+1 meeting of the 10 ASEAN leaders with South Korean President Kim Dae-jung at the International Convention Center (ICC) here.

She cited in particular, the initiatives of Korea in the ASEAN Secretariat Intranet Applications project and the ASEAN+3 ICT Specific Business Forum. ASEAN+3 refers to ASEAN, China, Japan and South Korea

During the summit talks, the President also called for stronger economic cooperation between ASEAN and South Korea.

Two concrete measures that she raised during the meeting include the possible establishment of an ASEAN-Republic of Korea Promotion Center for trade, investment, tourism and IT, as well as the revival of the ASEAN-Korea Business Council (AKBC).

The proposed establishment of the ASEAN Promotion Council (APC) is intended to improve the flow of goods, investments and tourists between ASEAN and Korea and generate awareness about ASEAN to the Korean public, in general.

Since the Philippines is the coordinator of ASEAN-Korea dialogue relations, the President expressed her willingness to work closely with the ASEAN Secretariat and Korea to look into the details and feasibility of the proposal.

Earlier today at the concluding part of the Seventh ASEAN Leaders Summit here, the President, together with the nine other ASEAN heads of government/state, held separate meetings with Chinese Premier Zhu Rong-ji and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.