President Aquino arrives in Vladivostok, Russia
for the 20th APEC Leaders' Meeting
VLADIVOSTOK, Russia: President Benigno S. Aquino
III arrived here Friday night to participate in the 20th Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Meeting which will be held on September 8 and 9 on
Russkiy Island.
On board a chartered Philippine Airlines flight
PROO1, the President, accompanied by a lean delegation composed of Foreign
Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Energy Secretary
Rene Almendras, and Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, Chief
Presidential Protocol Ambassador Jose Miguel Perez-Rubio, arrived at the Vladivostok "Knevichi"
International Airport at 8:55 p.m. (Vladivostok time).
Upon his arrival, the President was welcomed by
Yuri Phylatov, director of the State of Protocol of the Russian Foreign
Ministry, and Philippine Embassy officials led by Ambassador to Moscow
Alejandro Mosquera, Charge d’ Affaires Dinno Oblena and other officials.
Following the simple welcome ceremonies at the
airport, the President and his delegation proceeded to the Far Eastern Federal
University (FEFU) campus on Russkiy Island where the APEC summit is being held.
President Aquino is billeted at the FEFU Building 3.
On Saturday, President Aquino will kick off his
activities by holding separate bilateral meetings with Singapore's Prime
Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Chilean President Sebastian Pinera.
After the bilateral talks, he will proceed to
join his counterparts in the APEC Leaders Retreat Session 1. Then the President
will take part in the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Dialogue with the
APEC leaders.
Later in the evening, President Aquino will join
the other world leaders in the APEC Leaders’ Dinner. Then he will proceed to a
coffee meeting with the Philippine media covering the summit.
On Sunday, the President is scheduled to have
separate bilateral meetings with the Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and
Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang. This will be followed by his attendance
to the APEC Leaders Retreat Session 2.
In the afternoon, he will join the other APEC
leaders in the traditional official family photo opportunity. The President's
attendance at the APEC Leaders' Meeting will be culminated by a working lunch
with his APEC counterparts. PND (CO)
Philippines' tourism campaign 'It's More Fun in
the Philippines' to be formally launched third week of September in Moscow,
Russia
VLADIVOSTOK, Russia: The Department of Tourism’s
(DOT) "It's More Fun in the Philippines" campaign will be launched
later this month in Moscow, Russia, to further boost the number of tourist
arrivals in the Philippines, a government official said Friday.
In an interview, Philippine Ambassador to Moscow
Alejandro Mosquera said that a cultural group from the Philippines will be
coming to Russia to showcase the Philippine culture.
"It’s our turn now to have a show here
called 'The Days of Philippine Culture.' The Russians had it in the Philippines
last year, so now it’s our turn here. And the Department of Tourism will also
be launching 'It’s More Fun in the Philippines,'" Mosquera told members of
the Philippine media covering the 20th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
Leaders' Summit.
Mosquera pointed out that the launching
ceremonies will happen during the third week of September. He noted that the
Russian tourists travel by families and they really spend for vacations.
"12 million Russians are traveling every year so we want to get a big
slice of it," he added.
Last May, the DOT-London launched the
Philippines’ tourism campaign 'It‘s more fun in the Philippines' through a
45-minute fun motorcade that featured advertisements on London’s double-decker
buses and black cabs.
President Benigno S. Aquino III, during his
visit to the United Kingdom last June personally campaigned for the Philippines
as a prime tourist destination through the country’s 'It’s More Fun in the
Philippines' slogan. PND (CO)
Philippines, Chile agree on greater cooperation
on geothermal energy development and mining
The Philippines and Chile have agreed to strengthen
cooperation to develop their respective geothermal and mining sectors after
President Benigno S. Aquino III met his counterpart in a bilateral meeting
during the 20th APEC Leaders’ Meeting in Russia.
During a briefing with Philippine media in
Vladivostok, Russia, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said Chile
expressed its interest in learning from the Philippines and possibly enticing
more Filipino companies to invest in its geothermal undertakings. The
Philippines is number two in using geothermal energy in the world.
In turn, Del Rosario said the Philippines is
seeking cooperation with Chile to learn the best mining practices in that
country, particularly in the area of responsible mining.
Also during the same media briefing, Energy
Secretary Jose Rene Almendras said Chile already has geothermal investors from
the Philippines and Chile is happy with with these Philippine companies.
The Energy Development Corp. (EDC) of the
Philippines is already operating in Chile.
“The President basically requested that we
increase the number of or the volume of investments and interaction between
Philippine companies or the Philippine government and the Chilean government
regarding geothermal energy,” Almendras said.
Pinera was surprised that the geothermal
developments in the Philippines were already fully privatized while Chile looks
at increasing government participation in those development projects, Almendras
said.
We are going to be sharing with them some of the
frameworks or the structures that we have developed in the Philippines that has
become very encouraging for private companies to into geothermal energy,” he
said.
Chile, having tremendous potential in geothermal
energy, has asked the Philippines to help it develop a regulatory framework
that will encourage private sector participation in geothermal development
projects in Chile, Almendras said. Chile wants an immediate discussion with the
Philippines to craft such guidelines, he added.
Almendras said the Foreign Affairs Minister of
Chile told him that he is going to instruct the Ambassador of Chile to the
Philippines to immediately start discussions next week to spearhead the
initiative.
“I think the other discussion that was being
developed is Chile’s intention of bringing more Filipino awareness to
opportunities in Chile. The whole point was to frame a full cooperation
framework. In the bilateral meeting there was really very strong interest on
the part of Chile to become closer to the Philippines—in every aspect and in
any aspect in the relationship that we can develop,” he said. (PND/as)
Aquino thanks Singaporean Prime Minister for
support over the country's claim in West Philippine Sea
President Benigno S. Aquino III expressed his
gratitude to Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for his support to the
Philippines' claim in the West Philippine Sea.
The President and the Singaporean leader met in
a bilateral meeting Saturday during the 20th APEC Leaders’ Meeting in Vladivostok,
Russia.
“Singapore has committed to continue its support
in terms of a peaceful resolution of the disputes in accordance with
international law, including UNCLOS. And they also expressed the need for ASEAN
to strengthen its solidarity and centrality in being able to reinforce the
importance of ASEAN being an entity that would promote peace and stability in
the region,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said in a media
briefing with Philippine media in Russia aired over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
Del Rosario also said that aside from discussing
the West Philippine Sea issue, the President and his counterpart also talked
about the current global economic challenges.
Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines,
all members of the ASEAN, have overlapping claims in the resource-rich sea.
China claims sovereignty over almost its entirety.
In June, the Philippines had a standoff with
China over Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc.
ASEAN foreign ministers failed to move ahead on
the West Philippine Sea issue at a regional ministers’ meeting in Cambodia in
July, preventing the regional block from producing a joint communiqué for the
first time in its 45-year history.
The Philippines said one of its options is to
bring the issue to an international body to settle the dispute but China
continues to oppose such proposition. (PND/as)
President Pinera invites Aquino to visit Chile
Chilean President Sebastian Pinera has invited
President Benigno S. Aquino III to visit his country to further strengthen
cooperation between the Philippines and Chile, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima
said.
Purisima, together with other Cabinet members,
joined President Aquino in a bilateral meeting with Pinera and other Chilean
officials during the 20th APEC Leaders’ Meeting in Vladivostok, Russia on
Saturday.
Pinera has been to the Philippines three times
during his stint in the private sector noting his pleasant experience in the
country, Purisima said in a media briefing in Russia aired over dzRB Radyo ng
Bayan.
Aside from discussing the visit of President
Aquino to Chile, the two leaders also talked about the world economy
particularly the situation in Europe that could affect many countries, according
to Purisima.
The President expressed interest in studying
Chile’s best practices in taxing its mining industry. Chile, the world’s
largest exporter of copper, had revised its mining taxation scheme, recognizing
the volatility of mineral prices in the global market, Purisima said.
“The President and the President Pinera of Chile
both noted the commonality between the two countries—a shared heritage—and, in
fact, that’s the reason why the President of Chile expressed his desire to work
closely with the Philippines to further Chile’s economic relationship with Asia
and the Pacific,” he said.
Also during the same media briefing, Foreign
Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said Chile and the Philippines agreed to
increase cooperation on aquaculture development and education, by sending
Filipino teachers to Chile, as well as to strengthen tie ups on geothermal
energy development and mining. PND (as)
Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomes Aquino
and other world leaders at opening day of APEC Leaders' Meeting in Vladivostok
VLADIVOSTOK, Russia: Russian President Vladimir
Putin on Saturday personally welcomed President Benigno S. Aquino III and the
other leaders attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders'
Meeting during its formal opening ceremonies here.
Shortly after alighting from a black Mercedes
Benz bearing him, President Aquino walked through the entrance of the APEC
Conference Center and smilingly approached the amiable Russian President Putin
who in turn extended his hands to welcome him in Vladivostok.
The Russian leader is this year's host of the
2012 APEC Leaders' Summit.
Then the two leaders then posed for a souvenir
photo.
President Aquino was the third leader welcomed
by President Putin before the start of the Retreat Session I that marked the
opening day of the APEC Leaders' summit.
The first to arrive was Vietnamese President
Troung Tan Sang, who was followed by a representative from the Special
Administrative Region representing its Chief Executive (of Hong Kong,China).
Next to arrive after President Aquino was Prime
Minister Yoshihiko Noda of Japan.
The last leader to arrive in the Conference
Center was United States Secretary of State Hilary Clinton who represented
United States President Barack Obama.
The President is in Vladivostok, Russia
attending the two-day APEC Leaders' Meeting.
In his departure statement, President Aquino
cited the significance of his attendance in the APEC Leaders' Meeting saying
that he will seize the opportunity to invite more investors to come to the
Philippines as the reforms he has initiated started to take root making the
country more conducive to business.
APEC is a premier forum for facilitating
economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region.
PND (rsda)
Aquino and delegation members impressed by 2012
APEC Summit preparations in Vladivostok, Russia
VLADIVOSTOK, Russia: Amidst their hectic schedule,
President Benigno S. Aquino III and members of his delegation were impressed
with the enormous preparations made by the Russian government in hosting the
2012 APEC Summit here.
Foreign affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario,
who arrived in Vladivostok together with the President, said the hosting of
this year's APEC summit by Russia was done very well, citing the great
environment, excellent accommodations, and the exemplary warmth of the Russian
people.
Briefing the Philippine media delegation at the
Far East Federal University complex on Saturday (Vladivostok time) here, Del
Rosario said the preparations done by Russia as this year's host of the annual
APEC gathering "raises our bar of aspirations for our hosting of the
summit in 2015. "
Even the media delegations covering the summit
were impressed with the state-of-the art International media center featuring
countless wide-screen 3-D monitors, excellent wi-fi coverage, and an
eat-all-you-can food court.
The Philippines is set to formally announce the
country's hosting of the 2015 APEC summit during the closing ceremony of the
Vladivostok APEC Leaders' Meeting on Sunday.
Del Rosario declined to comment on the exact
venue for the 2015 summit in the Philippines noting that it still hasn't been
finalized yet as the preparations are still in the broad planning stages.
Earlier, Philippine Ambassador to Russia
Alejandro Mosquera cited the enormous preparations made by the Russian
government to officially welcome to their country the 21 world leaders that
included President Aquino who are currently attending the 20th APEC Leaders'
Meeting.
"As you land in the airport, you will
immediately notice that there is a brand new airport, new airport preparations
for the APEC. And as you drive through the streets, as you drive to a highway,
you will notice new infrastructures. And the city has been spruced up, new
infrastructure has been made," Mosquera stressed.
"And as you go closer, you will notice a
huge bridge to the Russkiy Island, which is the site of the conference, and a
lot of efforts. I would say it's an engineering feat to build this hanging
bridge... the bridge that connects the mainland Vladivostok to Russkiy
Island," he added.
From just a barren island with some small
villages, fishing villages, Mosquera said that "now as you can see, it is
a sprawling complex of hotels and convention centers."
Aside from infrastructures and other amenities,
the security was also very tightly designed to keep not only the safety of the
21 APEC leaders and other delegates and visitors but also the people of Russia.
PND (rsda)
Bilateral meeting between President Aquino and
President Pinera of Chile elicits opportunity for Filipinos to work as English
teachers in Chile
VLADIVOSTOK, Russia: President Benigno S. Aquino
III's bilateral meeting with Chilean President Sebastian Pinera at the
sidelines of the APEC Leaders' Meeting here has opened up an opportunity for
Filipino school teachers to work in Chile as English instructors.
The two leaders met Saturday morning
(Vladivostok time) and discussed various avenues of improving the bilateral
relations between the Philippines and the Republic of Chile. One of the topics
tackled was in the area of education, that of English teachers.
Briefing the Philippine media delegation at the
Far Eastern Federal University, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario
said the Chilean President talked to President Aquino about Chile's plan to
teach English to a majority of its Spanish-speaking population.
" We are being asked to consider bringing
in teachers who can teach English to a large part of the population of
Chile," Del Rosario said.
Del Rosario said, the Chilean president sought
President's Aquino's help in this endeavor by asking if the Philippines could
consider sending English teachers to work in Chile, which President Aquino
replied favorably.
Other areas of cooperation discussed by the two
leaders were in the fields of energy, geothermal partnership and aquaculture
among others, Del rosario noted.
"We're trying to seek the cooperation of
Chile in terms of improving tax revenues, and also in curbing tax evasion. So,
we are moving forward with a cooperation ...," he added.
" And lastly, what we are suggesting is
that a bilateral consultation be held between the two countries so that we can
effectively create a relationship in terms of how to enhance our bilateral
relations," Del Rosario said. PND (rsda)
President Aquino’s one-on-one meeting with
President Hu Jintao of China to push through, says Del Rosario
VLADIVOSTOK, Russia: President Benigno S. Aquino
III’s one-on-one meeting with his Chinese counterpart President Hu Jintao will
push through, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said here Saturday.
Del Rosario said that the format for the
bilateral meeting between President Aquino and President Hu has been finalized,
and that they are just waiting for the final date and time as to when the
meeting will take place.
“It will take place,” Del Rosario told members
of the Philippine media covering the APEC summit. “I think the meeting will be
made to happen in accordance with the current schedule of the President. It
will happen.”
Del Rosario is part of President Aquino’s
official delegation to the 20th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
Leaders' Meeting being held here on Russkiy Island from September 8 to 9.
The Foreign Affairs Secretary said that the
meeting between the two leaders may happen before the APEC summit concludes.
“Half of the day is gone. So perhaps tomorrow,” he said, adding that there is
no pre-agenda of the meeting.
He said that the conflicting claims over the
West Philippine Sea is expected to be discussed during the bilateral talks. “I’m
fairly sure that it will be discussed. It’s a subject that’s difficult to avoid
in a discussion between the Philippines and China,” he said.
But Secretary del Rosario stressed that the
issue on the West Philippine Sea is not the “sum total” of the relations
between the Philippines and China.
“In their last meeting when the President was
invited for a state visit to China there was an agreement that the disputes in
the South China Sea are not the sum total of the relations,” he said during an
interview with Philippine media here.
“And what we’d like to happen is we’d like to go
back to that agreement, which essentially states that both leaders will try to
move forward the bilateral agenda and abstract the contentious issues and deal
with that separately,” he further said. PND (co)
