PGMA's Speech during the Departure Ceremonies for a Working Visit to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and an Official Visit to Bangkok, Thailand

PGMA's Speech during the Departure Ceremonies for a Working Visit to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and an Official Visit to Bangkok, Thailand

VIP Lounge, NAIA Terminal I, Pasay City (07 May 2002)

THANK YOU.

VICE PRESIDENT GUINGONA, OTHER OFFICIALS, LADIES AND GENTLMEN, MGA MINAMAHAL KONG KABABAYAN: AKO PO AY MAGTUTUNGO SA MALAYSIA AT THAILAND SA ISANG OVERNIGHT TRIP.

THE TIMING IS PERFECT, REINFORCED BY RECENT EVENTS. THERE IS A NEED FOR FRESH DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVES AS WE PUSH FORWARD IN DEMOCRATIC CONSOLIDATION AND INTERNAL REFORMS.

OUR REGIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD ALSO NEEDS A REINVIGORATED DIALOGUE ON ISSUES OF TERRORISM AND POVERTY. MAPAPABUTI ANG UGNAYAN NG PILIPINAS SA ATING DALAWANG KALAPIT-BANSA SA ASEAN.

I SHALL USE THE NEXT TWO DAYS TO PUT FORWARD THE POSITION OF THE PHILIPPINES ON TRADE AND SECURITY AS I SEEK A MEETING OF MINDS THAT CAN BE OF REGIONAL AND GLOBAL VALUE.

ANG INYONG LINGKOD AY NAIMBITAHAN NI PRIME MINISTER MAHATHIR NA MAGSALITA SA INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENT MEETING NG PACIFIC BASIN ECONOMIC COUNCIL OR PBEC. THE PBEC IS AN ASSOCIATION OF SENIOR BUSINESS LEADERS FROM AROUND THE PACIFIC BASIN REGION. IT REPRESENTS OVER A THOUSAND COMPANIES IN 20 ECONOMIES IN THE REGION. THESE ACCOUNT FOR OVER 4 TRILLION DOLLARS IN GLOBAL SALES AND EMPLOY OVER 10 MILLION PEOPLE.

GAGAMITIN KO ANG PAGKAKATAONG IYON HINDI LAMANG PARA HIKAYATIN ANG MGA NEGOSYANTE SA ASYA-PASIPIKO NA MAMUHUNAN SA PILIPINAS. I SHALL PRESENT BEFORE THIS FORUM OUR POSITION ON LIBERALIZED AND EQUITABLE TRADE. I WILL TOUCH UPON THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE WAR AGAINST TERRORISM AND THE WAR AGAINST POVERTY. I WILL DWELL ON MECHANISMS TO TEMPER PROTECTIONISM PURSUANT TO OUR NATIONAL INTEREST.

ISUSULONG KO ANG KAPAKANAN NG MGA PILIPINONG NASA MALAYSIA. HIHINGI TAYO NG MAS MALUWAG SA MGA AWTORIDAD DOON NA MAGING MAHINAHON SA KANILANG DEPORTATION PROCESS AT GAWING MAHUSAY AT MAKATAO SA UNDOCUMENTED FILIPINOS. HIHINGIN KO RIN KAY PRIME MINISTER MAHATHIR NA PATULOY ANG PAGSUPORTA NG BANSANG MALAYSIA SA PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES SA MINDANAO.

AFTER FOUR MONTHS OF NEGOTIATIONS, THE TRILATERAL AGREEMENT ON INFORMATION EXCHANGE AND COMMUNICATION PROCEDURES WILL BE SIGNED IN KUALA LUMPUR DURING MY VISIT. THIS AGREEMENT RALLIES TOGETHER OUR NEIGHBORS IN ASEAN TO JOINTLY ADDRESS BORDER AND SECURITY INCIDENTS, TERRORISM AND TRANSNATIONAL CRIMES, AND OTHER ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES.

THIS AGREEMENT WAS AMONG MY PROPOSALS AT THE 7th ASEAN SUMMIT HELD IN BRUNEI IN NOVEMBER 2001. I CONSIDER THIS THE PHILIPPINES' CONTRIBUTION, TOGETHER WITH MALAYSIA AND INDONESIA, TO THE GLOBAL CAMPAIGN TO COMBAT TERRORISM.

SA THAILAND, ITATAGUYOD KO ANG PAGSASAKATUPARAN NG MGA BILATERAL AGREEMENTS NA ATING NAGAWA NA SA MGA NAKARAANG LIMANG TAON, KASAMA NA RIN IYUNG MGA GINAWA NOONG DINALAW TAYO NI PRIME MINISTER THAKSIN SA PILIPINAS NOONG NAKARAANG OKTUBRE. KABILANG SA MGA TATALAKAYIN NAMIN ANG TURISMO, PANGANGALAKAL AT COUNTER-TERRORISM.

THAILAND, BEING THE REGIONAL LEADER IN TOURISM, HAS MUCH TO SHARE WITH THE PHILIPPINES. I INTEND TO DISCUSS WITH MY COUNTERPART THE WAYS AND MEANS FOR OUR TWO COUNTRIES TO STEP UP COOPERATION IN THIS FIELD.

MAKIKIPAG-USAP RIN AKO SA ILANG BUSINESS LEADERS NG THAILAND PARA SA POSIBLENG MAMUHUNAN SA PILIPINAS. ITO RIN AY MAGSISILBING ISANG PAGKAKATAON UPANG MAPAKITA NATIN ANG ATING MATAPAT NA HANGARIN NA MASULONG ANG PAG-UNLAD NG PILIPINAS AT ANG KAPAKANAN NG DAKILANG MANGGAGAWANG PILIPINO.

THERE ARE MORE THAN 5,000 FILIPINOS ALL OVER THE KINGDOM OF THAILAND, MAKING SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THAI SOCIETY AS EDUCATORS, MUSICIANS, SKILLED WORKERS AND TECHNICAL EXPERTS.

IN TIMES OF CHALLENGE AND OPPORTUNITY, THERE IS NOTHING MORE NATURAL OR EASIER THAN TO LOOK TO OUR NEIGHBORS FOR MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL ARRANGEMENTS. ATING IPANALANGIN NA SANA AY MAGING MATAGUMPAY ANG PAGLALAKBAY KONG ITO.

MARAMING SALAMAT SA INYONG LAHAT.

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