President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo flew this morning to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) enroute to a State Visit in Beijing, China where she is expected to forge closer relation between the two countries on the basis of shared vision of peace and harmony and common prosperity.

In a pre-departure speech at the Terminal II of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the President said her visit to Hong Kong and China will "reaffirm the historic ties between the Filipino and the Chinese people, trace their shared history and seek to build a future of closer friendship between brothers."

"At no other time has our relations with China been more important as today. The rapid tale of events has placed China at the center of world attention not only as the fastest growing economy but as the leading partner to the globalize regime," the President said.

Her visit to China will be preceded by an official visit to Hong Kong, the first official invitation ever extended by the SAR government since its hand over to the People's Republic of China in 1997.

While in Hong Kong, the President will keynote the 10^th East Asia Economic Summit organized by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum to be followed by a bilateral meeting with HKSAR Chief Executive Tung Chee-Wah.

"I will meet with Chief Executive Tung Chee-Wah to reaffirm our enduring and excellent bilateral relations to find new ways to enhance our economic ties and to identify other areas of cooperation and mutual benefit," she said.

The WEF summit, which will be attended by some 800 business leaders, ranking government officials, top media personalities and members of the academe from Asia, the United States and Europe, will give the President an opportunity to pitch for the Philippines as an ideal destination for foreign investments.

Most importantly, the President said she will convey to the SAR Chief Executive the country's appreciation to his abiding recognition of the work and contributions of more than 180,000 Filipinos to the development and prosperity of Hong Kong.

In the afternoon, the President will address a gathering of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) at the Hong Kong International Trade and Exhibition Center where she will have the opportunity to thank them for their invaluable support to the country's economy as well as for making great personal sacrifices on the course of their employment.

"I shall make a personal appeal to our brothers and sisters in Hong Kong to maximize their contributions to their home country which have sustained the economy and abled thousands of young people to complete their education, built or repaired thousands of homes, launched numerous businesses, and created thousands of job opportunities," she said.

Prior to the President's address to the Filipino community in Hong Kong, Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon of the DOT will conduct a briefing regarding the DOT's tourism volunteer program where every OFW is encouraged to convince a foreign tourist to visit the Philippines.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will deliver the keynote address at the three-day Tenth East Asia Economic Summit that opens tomorrow, Monday, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center at the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

The President’s address at the economic summit, which is organized by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF), and her bilateral meeting with HKSAR Chief Executive Tung Chee-Hwa are the highlights of her two-day official visit to Hong Kong.

From Hong Kong, the President will make a state visit to the People’s Republic of China (PROC) from October 29-31.

The President, who only last weekend attended the Ninth Economic Leaders Meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Shanghai, had earlier said that her foreign trips are dictated by the country’s national interests not only in enhancing bilateral relations with neighbors like the PROC but also in promoting regional initiatives to bolster the international coalition against terrorism.

In her address before some 800 participants to the economic summit, the President is expected to again pitch for the Philippines as a haven for foreign investments. She is also expected to brief the participants of the major programs initiated by her administration to speed up the country’s economic recovery in the midst of the feared global economic slowdown.

In her arrival speech in Manila after attending the APEC summit, the President said the world today is faced with the dual imperatives of heightened vigilance against terrorism and of economic revitalization.

The theme of the Hong Kong economic summit itself, "Reversing the Downturn: Preparing Asia’s Growth Agenda," jibes with the overall master plan of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration in pump-priming the Philippine economy in the next three years.

One of the five co-chairmen of the Hong Kong summit is Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala II, president and chief executive officer of the Ayala Corporation.

Participants to the Hong Kong economic forum include business leaders representing major multinationals and regional companies, as well as ranking government officials, top media personalities, and members of the academe from Asia, the United States and Europe.

According to the WEF, the goal of the Hong Kong economic summit is to present a comprehensive update and give key insights into East Asia’s growth trajectory by examining the region’s economies.

With the current downturn in Asia, coordinated efforts at the highest level between all of society’s stakeholders are required to shape and implement the policies to bring the region back to economic growth, the WEF said.

Aside from the Philippines, China and the Republic of Korea, most of the countries in East Asia are expected to register negative growths for this year, and these include such progressive countries as Singapore, Malaysia and Japan.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will make a three-day state visit from October 29 to 31 to the People’s Republic of China (PROC) to further strengthen Philippine-China relations that have already spanned two and a half decades.

The Philippines and China established diplomatic ties on June 9, l975. On June 9 last year, the two countries commemorated the silver anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations through the signing of a Joint Statement on the Framework of Bilateral Cooperation in the 21^st Century.

Earlier, in an interview with Chinese journalists, the President said she considers her visit to China, with one of the fastest growing economies in the region, as an opportunity to promote the Philippines as an investment destination for Chinese investors who may now want to expand their business activities overseas.

"We want to be able to invite Chinese enterprises that are now ready to invest overseas and to consider the Philippines as an investment area. That is an opportunity that we would like to take advantage," the President said.

This is the reason why, the President said, that she is going to visit Fujian on her way home since, according to her, most of the successful Filipino-Chinese have roots in Fujian.

The President’s state visit to Beijing will be preceded by a two-day official visit to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) where she will address the Tenth East Asia Economic Summit and hold bilateral talks with HKSAR Chief Executive Tung Chee-Hwa.

While in Hong Kong, the President will also address a large gathering of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) where she will assure them of her administration’s program for their protection and welfare.

In Beijing, the President will also meet with the Filipino community in mainland China which is composed mostly of professionals.

The highlight of her state visit to Beijing will be her one-on-one talks with President Jiang Zemin at the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmien Square on Tuesday, October 30.

Last Sunday, October 22, the President, who attended the Ninth Economic Leaders’ Meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Shanghai had an unscheduled meeting with President Jiang she congratulated the Chinese leader for his "perfect" hosting of the APEC summit.

The President said that during her state visit, the Philippines and China will be signing four bilateral agreements, one of which is allowing the transfer of convicted Chinese and Filipino nationals to their country to serve and complete their sentences there.

The President will also meet with Premier Zhu Rongji and Chairman Li Peng of the National People’s Congress.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today embarked on a four-day trip to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and mainland China, seeking to build a "future of closer friendship" with one of the country's most important neighbors in the Asian region.

In a pre-departure statement at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the President vowed to strive in carving a new path of foreign relations that is truly reflective of national interests, including the fight against terrorism, the struggle against poverty and the continuing push to shore up the Philippine economy.

The President, who left this morning on-board Philippine Airlines flight 300 for Hong Kong, said that at no other time is the country's relation with China been more important than today.

"The rapid phase of events has placed China at the center of world attention not only as the fastest growing economy but as the leading partner in the globalized regime," she said.

With its impending access to the World Trade Organization (WTO) two months from now, the President said China will be firmly placed in the orbit of the new economy.

"Every nation including ours is poised for the opportunity offered by this event even as we have nurtured our political and economic bonds with this great country for many years," the President stressed.

Right after the successful Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shanghai, the President said the Philippines is one of the first nations to be honored by a state visit to China.

She pointed out that the APEC summit in Shanghai took place at the crucial juncture when the world's major economy was experiencing a slowdown more severe than anticipated.

The Chief Executive explained that the slow down is compounded by events following the Sept.11 attacks on the United States as the international war against terrorism takes a determined course.

During her one-on-one meeting with Chinese President Jiang Zemin, the President will discuss with the Chinese leader important matters of bilateral concern such as pressing like the South China Sea, transnational crimes, agricultural cooperation and trade and investment.

Aside from the signing of several business arrangements, the President and Chinese leader will also witness the signing of landmark bilateral agreements and cooperation in the fight against transnational crime, and cooperation in combating the illicit trade of narcotics and the extradition of fugitives in justice.

She is also looking forward to constructive meetings with the second and third powerful leaders of the People's Republic, namely, Chairman Li Peng of the National People's Congress and Premier Zhu Rong-Ji.

While in Beijing, the President will also address and dialogue with the students and faculty of Xinhua University, China's foremost educational institution, and the alma mater of Nobel laureates and top Chinese government leaders.

"This will become a welcome opportunity to reach out to the youth of China to cement our bonds of friendship and to crystalize a common vision for the future," the President said in her speech.

Her visit to Xinhua will be followed by a business forum regarding information and communications technology and agricultural modernization, an opportunity the she will use to invite Chinese commerce and industry leaders to invest and do business in the Philippines.

The President is also set to meet and break bread with the small Filipino community, whose members are occupying prominent positions in banks, hotels and the media.

"In fact I'm proud to say that the bureau chiefs of the media giants (in China) are all Filipino nationals," she said.

She is also looking forward for constructive meetings with the second and third powerful leaders of the People's Republic, namely, Chairman Li Peng of the National People's Congress and Premier Zhu Rong Ji.

"Our ultimate goal is a nation free from the specter of fear and uncertainty, leaving at peace with its neighbors and the world, and most of all, fully enabled and capable of social and economic reform in the face of current constraints and challenges," the President said.

She further stressed that the beautiful part is that China and Hong Kong are the country's closest neighbors to the north of Asia,

"We are all Asians, we are all brothers," the President said.

HONG KONG – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo arrived here today for a two-day official visit before proceeding tomorrow for Beijing for a three-day state visit.

The President and First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, and her official delegation, arrived at the Chek Lap Kok International Airport at about 10:00 AM via PR Flight 300, a regular commercial flight of the Philippines Airlines.

The President was welcomed at the airport by Consul General Ma. Zenaida Angara Collinson and Denise C. Y. Yue, Secretary of the Treasury of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SKSAR).

Some 300 Filipino workers here also greeted the President outside of the airport premises, displaying placards saying that they support her administration.

Later in the afternoon, the President addressed a large gathering of members of the Filipino community at the Hong Kong International Trade and Exhibition Center.

The President was also the guest of honor in a luncheon meeting of the officers of the Filipino-Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce and Filipino business executives held at the Shangrila Hotel here where the President is billeted.

The President was also interviewed by two top editors of the Asian Wall Street Journal, which is based here.

Tomorrow, the President will address the 10^th East Asia Economic Summit organized by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF).

HONG KONG (via PLDT) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said that the Philippines will use the resiliency that it had displayed during the past six months of her administration and during the financial crisis of l997 in facing the new economic uncertainties caused by the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

In an interview with two top editors of the Asian Wall Street Journal (ASWJ), the President said that her government will continue to focus on its policy of relying more on the domestic market, adding that she is confident the Philippines will be able to meet its growth target and its budget deficit ceiling.

The President said that during the first months of her administration, there was already a slowdown or a plunge in the country’s exports.

She said that in order to sustain economic growth, her government decided not to be over dependent on exports but to build up the domestic economy and to expand the local market.

"But what is important is not to be over confident but to focus really our fiscal, monetary and income policies toward the strengthening of the local economy," the President said.

The President said these policies are aimed at reducing the bottlenecks in the implementation of "big ticket" infrastructure projects that could help push domestic demands, citing as example the long-delayed Batangas Port project.

HONG KONG (via PLDT)—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said that her administration is determined to win the war against local terrorism through the various anti-poverty programs that she had launched since assuming the presidency early this year.

In an interview with Peter Spein and Brett Decker, managing editor and editorial page editor respectively of the Asian Wall Street Journal (ASWJ), at the Shangrila Hotel here, the President said that "evil is the source of terrorism and evil can find allies among the poor."

"The fight against terrorism is a fight against poverty," the President stressed, adding that this is especially so among the home-grown terrorists.

The President also said that the decision of the Philippines to join the United States-led coalition against global terrorism was "a moral choice."

She said the Philippines and the UN have strategic relationship for a long time, referring to the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) that the two countries have signed some 50 years ago.

When asked if she would be seeking concessions from the US during her visit to Washington, D.C. next month in return for her support to the global war against terrorists, the President said she hoped the US would support her government’s battle against the terrorists in Mindanao.

The President, however, declined to specify what kind of help she would ask the US to extend to the government in the fight against the Abu Sayyaf terrorists in Mindanao.

The President also told the AWSJ editors that the government’s decision to support the US-led coalition against terrorism is being supported by religious and political leaders in Mindanao, including the ulamas and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

She said that after the terror attacks in the US, the MILF leaders immediately distanced themselves from Osama bin Laden and his band of international terrorists.

The President also told the AWSJ editors that her policy in Mindanao is for peace and development to go together and to accommodate various ethnic groups, including the Muslims, in Philippine society.

HONG KONG (via PLDT)—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said she and Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri have some things in common that could augur well for their two countries’ common goal of fighting terrorism.

In an interview with Peter Spein and Brett Decker, managing editor and editorial page editor respectively of the Asian Wall Street Journal, the President said being both second generation leaders, she and Megawati have "great relations."

The President recalled that in the early sixties, her father, the late President Diosdado Macapagal and Megawati’s father, Indonesian founding president Sukarno, were the prime movers in the establishment of Maphilindo (for Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia), which was the forerunner of what is now the expanded Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Today, after four decades and with both of them now leading their respective countries, she and Megawati are working, along with Malaysia, in forging a trilateral cooperative effort in fighting terrorism in the region.

"Our common goals and work are binding us together," the President said.

The President said that Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines have common maritime borders where terrorists and pirates roam.

HONG KONG (via PLDT) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today enjoined Filipino overseas workers to report to Philippine authorities here if they are charged by their recruiters the equivalent of more than one month of their salary as placement fees.

In her address before the Filipino community at the Hongkong International Trade and Exhibition Center in Kowloon, the President said she has ordered the Philippine Consulate General to blacklist those recruitment agencies that "overcharge" OFWs.

"Kung merong nagkukubra ng mahigit sa isang buwang sahod, isumbong kaagad sa konsulado (If there are those who charge more than a month’s salary, immediately report them to the Consulate)," she said.

There are at least 180,000 Filipino overseas workers in this special administration region, many of whom are domestic helpers.

With this in mind, the President ordered the Philippine Consulate to stay open on Sundays.

The President said the Consulate’s personnel would have their days-off on Fridays instead.

Among those present in the gathering were Senators Noli de Castro, Francis Pangilinan and Renato Cayetano, El Shaddai founder Bro. Mike Velarde and Jesus Is Lord Movement founder Bro. Eddie Villanueva and several members of the House of Representatives.

Among the Cabinet members present were Press Secretary Noel Cabrera, Presidential Spokesperson Rigoberto Tiglao, Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council head Michael Defensor and Press Undersecretaries Carmen Suva and Roberto Capco.

The President again thanked the OFWs present for the hard work that they do for their family and country noting that dollar remittance from OFWs annually amount to at least $7 billion.

The President noted that she has pushed for the passing of the Absentee Voting bill. She said that the Philippines is likewise strengthening bilateral relations with countries hosting OFWs.

"We are also intensifying the ratification for the UN Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and their Families and the adoption of UN resolution on the protection of women migrant workers," she said.