JIANGXI, China (via PLDT/SMART) – Jiangxi province donated on Sunday 1-million renminbi (about P8 million) to Bohol, its Philippine sister province, for the upgrading of the medical equipment of Bohol’s provincial hospital.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who arrived in China Friday on a five-day official visit, witnessed the turnover of the Jiangxi donation in simple ceremonies held at the Hayden Room of the Sofitel Trilec Hotel here last night.

Governor Huang Zhiquan of Jiangxi province handed over the donation to Bohol Governor Erico Aumentado.

"The Jiangxhi provincial people's government has decided to donate one million RMB yuan to the state hospital of Bohol province in the Philippines for the purchase of medical equipment," the commemorative plaque on the donation read.

The donation was also part of the warm welcome for the President to Jiangxi and to "further enhance the friendly relationship between Jiangxi and Bohol and to promote the development of the public health sector in Bohol, particularly the Bohol State Hospital to purchase medical equipment," it added.

Aside from being sister provinces, Jiangxi and Bohol share the distinction of being the first sister provinces to share "sister mountains."

Bohol’s famous Chocolate Hills, one of the Philippines’ leading tourist attractions, share the same "bloodlines" with Jiangxi’s Mount Lushang, also one of China’s tourist hubs.

The establishment of the "sister mountains" program is designed to spur tourism in both countries, particularly in Bohol and Jiangxi.

GUILIN, China (via PLDT/SMART) – North Korea's nuclear test will be among the issues to be discussed today at the 15th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) + China commemorative summit, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said Sunday.

In an interview by veteran Manila Standard Today columnist Emil Jurado during the President's tour of the idyllic Lijang River yesterday, the Chief Executive said she will bring up the North Korean nuclear issue in her opening statement at the 15th anniversary of Asean-China relations.

"China is the key to the solution to the North Korea issue because North Korea is so economically dependent on China," she said. "We can promote stability if we work together on the North Korea issue."

The President added that although the Asean-China Summit is supposed to be the forum to discuss economic issues, it would be beneficial to discuss security issues too.

"I will include it (the NoKor issue) in my opening statement because even if Asean-China forum is basically an economic forum, this is a very good opportunity to discuss not only economic but also security issues," she said.

"When the heads of government get together, it (the discussion of security issues) helps tie the region together. It strengthens solidarity in time of crises," the President added.

China, a dialogue partner of Asean and a member of the powerful United Nations Security Council, is an acknowledged supporter of Pyongyang in terms of trade and foreign aid.

Beijing is also a member of the Six-Party Talks, which also includes the United States, South Korea, Russia, and Japan. The ultimate aim of the Six-Party Talks is to resolve the nuclear weapons issue.

However, Pyongyang’s first-ever nuclear test has tipped the balance, with China supporting a UN resolution seeking to impose sanctions on North Korea for violations of international laws governing nuclear weapons.

"China can help us address the threats on regional security which includes the conflict in the South China Sea. By our dialogue we are transforming the South China Sea from an area of conflict to an area of cooperation," the President said.

The Philippines, together with Vietnam and China have reached the final stages of a joint seismic testing at the Spratlys Islands that is expected to be completed next year.

NANNING, China (via PLDT/SMART) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo called on China today to exert its influence on North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons development program for the good of the region.

The President raised North Korea’s recent nuclear test during the bilateral meeting she had with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao before the start of the 15^th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) + China commemorative summit.

North Korea’s nuclear test was among the topics discussed by the two leaders that also included trade and diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China.

In an interview with reporters, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said the President and her host also discussed the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, which the Philippines, China and other countries claim as part of their territories.

They also discussed Wen’s visit to the Philippines sometime in December.

On North Korea, the President expressed the hope that China would take a tougher stance in asking Pyongyang to cease its nuclear testing program to preserve the security and peace in the region, Bunye said.

The President had earlier said that China is in a better position to request Pyongyang to stop its nuclear testing because aside from being a close neighbor, Beijing is also North Korea’s biggest trading partner.

She also stressed that by working together, Asean and China have a better chance of normalizing the situation in the region.

Bunye said that Wen had "responded positively" to the President's suggestion, adding that a declaration on the issue was forthcoming.

On bilateral relationships, Bunye said that China is "pursuing a strategic relationship" with the Philippines based on peace and development through the further expansion of tourism, economic and cultural ties, as well as in other non-traditional relationships such as in addressing trans-national crimes.

"On economic and trade relations, both countries expressed optimism that the relations would be expanded as far as agriculture, infrastructure, mining, hybrid rice and corn and the continuation of the North Rail Project as well as the proposed South Rail Project," he said.

On mineral exploration in the vast South China Sea, particularly the contested Spratlys, Bunye said that the President "expressed the hope that both countries would be able to take the next step towards advanced cooperation in the South China Sea."

He also said that Wen had expressed his government's willingness to assist in "disaster relief" after the series of disasters hit the Philippines including Typhoon "Milenyo," the MT Solar I oil spill off Guimaras province, and the most recent, Typhoon "Paeng."

"The Prime Minister said that as a neighbor, China is willing to assist (the Philippines) in disaster relief and mitigation," Bunye said.

NANNING, China (via PLDT/SMART) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo met separately today with the Prime Ministers of Laos and Vietnam and discussed possible expansion of trade relations, according to Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye.

In an interview with reporters covering the President's attendance at the start of the 15^th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) + China Commemorative Summit here, Bunye said the separate bilateral meetings were also a "get to know you" event as the PMs of both countries were elected to office recently.

Laos PM Bouasone Buophavanh, according to Bunye, said that his country was looking at the possibility of expanding trade and other bilateral ties with the Philippines through investing in mining and information technology sector.

Buophavanh had asked President Arroyo for "cooperation and assistance" in lowering trade costs between the two countries since Laos is a landlocked country.

Bunye said that the government would look for ways to address the concern of Buophavanh.

The bilateral meeting with the Vietnamese, led by PM Nguyen Tandung, according to Bunye, was a "cordial" one.

Aside from the usual pleasantries, the two heads of state also invited one another to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit to be held in Vietnam in November and the 12^th ASEAN Summit set in December in Cebu, Philippines.

Bunye said both countries also agreed that the North Korea nuclear issue should be resolved peacefully and as soon as possible.

On the South China Sea issue, Vietnam agreed that it was important to take the next step in exploring its vast natural resources.

NANNING, China (via PLDT/SMART) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo reiterated today her appeal to the Malaysian government to allow its International Monitoring Team (IMT) to remain in the Philippines longer.

Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye said the President reiterated the request during her bilateral meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi at the Liyuan Hotel here, due to the effectiveness of the team to keep peace "on the ground."

"The President again reiterated her appeal for the continued support of the Malaysian government (in the peace process) and the continued presence of the International Monitoring Team, which has been there for quite some time," Bunye told reporters during a lull in the President's schedule.

"The IMT has been instrumental in keeping peace on the ground. And while we have stalled peace talks, the President is heartened by the fact that the peace on the ground is holding. So, that is the reason why the IMT needs to be there (in Mindanao)," Bunye added.

According to Bunye, Badawi reacted positively to the request of the President, saying he also wanted an immediate resolution to the decades-long problem of insurgency in the Philippines.

"The Prime Minister (Badawi) said that he was as eager as everybody to move (the stalled peace talks) forward and the farther we move, it will be good for all," Bunye said.

He explained that Badawi bewailed the possible business opportunities the two countries could have entered into such as the palm oil business if the peace problem was resolved earlier.

"Badawi said that in the past, we have offered to source some projects such as palm oil but this has been stalled because of the situation on the ground and we expressed regret over (the inability to pursue) this opportunity," Bunye said.

He said Badawi pledged "to do whatever they can to keep the peace talks moving."

The International Monitoring Team (IMT) has been in Mindanao since 2004 to oversee the implementation of the ceasefire agreement between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines.