Aside from the key issues she hopes to tackle in the 11^th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit which starts tomorrow in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is also expected to focus on how to strengthen trade and the regional fight against terrorism.

Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye said in a radio interview this morning the President will take advantage of every chance to discuss with her counterparts ways of further improving their respective countries’ cooperation with each other, particularly on these issues.

"Aside from the official level, it is also important for the President to talk to these leaders in an informal manner," he said in the vernacular.

ASEAN is a regional cooperation bloc among 10 countries in Southeast Asia—Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Earlier this week, Malacanang said the President will focus on matters that will have strong impact on the economic, political and cultural affairs not only of the Philippines but also of the whole ASEAN region.

The issues include Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines- East Asia Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) program, energy security, inter-faith dialogue, the South China Sea as an area of cooperation, the ASEAN Charter and counter-terrorism.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the President plans to reiterate the Philippine proposal for joint cooperation with other ASEAN member countries.

The President leaves for Kuala Lumpur Sunday morning on board Philippine Airlines PR 001 for the 11^th ASEAN Summit, First East Asia Summit and Related Summits slated Dec. 11-14.

She will be accompanied in the delegation by former President Fidel V. Ramos, who has been designated RP Eminent Person for the ASEAN Charter; Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo; Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila; Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye; Chairperson Corazon Malanyaon of the House of Representatives’ EAGA Affairs Committee; Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Sonia Cataumber Brady (RP Senior Official for ASEAN); Philippine Ambassador-designate to Malaysia Victoriano Lecaros; Presidential Adviser for Mindanao Jesus Dureza, who is also Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCO) chairman and signing minister for BIMP-EAGA; and Ramon Vicente Kabigting, RP Senior Economic Official for Asean.