| PGMA cites importance of peace, security cooperation in Asean region |
| NANNING CITY, China (via PLDT/SMART) --- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
underscored yesterday the importance of the 15th Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (Asean)+China Commemorative Summit, saying that relations between Asean and China
have never been better and stronger.
"The summit is more important than ever and open dialogue and trust between peoples and nations have never been more important than in today’s world," the Chief Executive said in her opening remarks at the Summit held at the International Convention Center of the Li Yuan Hotel here The President said that all the leaders of the 10-member Asean traveled to the People’s Republic of China to celebrate "this important milestone for Asean region and the world – the 15 years of Asean-China collaboration." "We, in Asean take some amount of pride in helping China to become an economic powerhouse as a result of the economic, political and cultural collaboration between Asean and China," the President stressed. She said that as China has surged onto the world stage, Asean has surged with it, adding that the change has been profound. Asean groups together Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. "Asean welcomes the deepening of ties through the Asean-China Free Trade Agreement. This agreement is built on respect, reciprocity and pragmatism," the Chief Executive said. The agreement, according to her, will help all of Asean’s economies grow and strengthen peace and security in the region. In light of the recent events in North Korea, the President said, regional peace and security has never been more important. "Asean is not a security organization. It is focused on economic and social integration. Yet this meeting of Asean and Chinese leaders provides a significant forum for discussing economic and security issues. It helps tie the region together and strengthens solidarity in times of crisis," the President said. She said these are the issues that Asean leaders must focus their attention on and the issues that should be the "subject of our meeting here in China and later in the Philippines as we forge the vision of what the future will be like for the next generation." |
| PGMA bats for intensified trade between China, Asean member nations |
NANNING, China (via PLDT/Smart) – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) region can wean itself away from its dependence on traditional western exports by intensifying "integrative trade" through the Asean-China Free Trade Area (FTA), President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today. In her speech officially opening the 3rd China-Asean Expo (CAEXPO) this morning at the Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center here, the President said that through the Asean-China FTA, tariff rates for various products traded between countries in the region can be reduced. This reduction, the President added, will allow Asean trade partners to "move" their goods at much lesser costs and at the same time allow a larger number of people greater access to these products. The Asean-China FTA enables both parties to reduce and eliminate tariff rates on a range of products. A supplier of much-needed resources, the Asean region represents a market of over half a billion people for Chinese exports. "In turn, we the Asean countries can reduce our dependence for our exports on Western markets such as the United States and Europe," the President said. She noted that "on this grand occasion," the businessmen representing Asean are in China "not only looking for products to bring home but also for industries where Chinese and Asean manufacturing can collaborate to produce for our own domestic markets and for the rest of the world." "Our businessmen have come to Nanning looking for product as candidates for the field of shared prosperity both for China and Asean," she said. The President also cited the continued strengthening of the ties between Asean and China, saying the partnership remains one of the most dynamic and progressive in the East Asian region. She pointed out that since the beginning of Asean-China relations in 1991, the focus of cooperation had been limited to economic and trade, but this has now "evolved" to include cooperation on "political security, development and other regional issues." "Going forward, we should continue to strengthen confidence building measures, intensifying interactions, and allocating benefit. This China-Asean Expo is a good example," the President said. "An expo such as this builds confidence. It reminds us of strategic themes such as: What will our relationship look like in 15 years form today? This expo should strengthen our resolve to intensify the integrative trade with Asean-China Free Trade Area," she added. For his part, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said the CAEXPO "demonstrates the sincere desire of the two sides to seek opportunities and deepen cooperation." "It serves as a platform for mutually beneficial cooperation and is conducive to strengthened cooperation between China and Asean in trade, investments and tourism," Wen said. |
| PGMA opens 3rd China-Asean Business and Investment Summit |
| NANNING, China – (via PLDT/Smart) – Sitting as Chair of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, along
with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, formally opened the 3rd China-Asean
Business and Investment Summit (CABIS) here this morning.
The opening ceremonies were held at the sprawling Auditorium of the Grand Hall of the People's Congress of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region before a large crowd composed of government officials, businessmen, Chinese citizens and media. In her speech, the President related the seriousness of the Philippines and her government to attract more investments to bring economic stability and prosperity to the country. She said her administration’s economic reforms, such as the imposition of the Expanded Value Added Tax (EVAT) Law and the National Attrition Law, aimed to improve the economic and fiscal standing of the country and make it competitive for foreign investments and the jobs such investments create. The President also invited China to invest in the Philippines, particularly in the areas of mining, infrastructure development, agriculture, fisheries and housing. "Thus, I take this opportunity to invite China to look at the Philippines as a destination for even greater Chinese investment, particularly in the areas of mining, infrastructure development, agriculture, fisheries, as well as housing," she said. "Our workforce is well educated, productive and English-speaking. The government has taken the difficult decisions to raise the additional revenues needed to invest in infrastructure and services to create an economic environment that is conducive to investment," she added. |