H.E. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be joining 22 other Heads of State and Government at the 5th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 5) Summit on 7-9 October 2004 in Hanoi, Vietnam.  The Summit carries the theme “Further Revitalizing and Substantiating the Asia-Europe Partnership.”  H.E. Prime Minister Phan Vhan Khai of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam will chair the meeting, together with the other ASEM coordinators, the European Commission, Japan and the Netherlands, acting as co-Chairs.

At the Summit, 13 new ASEM members will be admitted, namely the European Union’s 10 new countries and Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.  It will be a landmark Summit since ASEM’s total membership will see an increase from 26 to 39, making it a unique interregional dialogue and cooperation framework encompassing all the current members of the EU and ASEAN+3.

In accordance with the President’s eight foreign policy realities, the Philippines places much importance on multilateral and interregional organizations such as ASEM.  ASEM allows the Philippines to interact and cooperate with European and Asian partners in a spirit of mutual respect, understanding and benefit across a wide range issues such as counter-terrorism, sustainable development, increasing trade and investments and promoting cultural exchanges.  The President’s 10-pt. domestic agenda will be pushed in an interregional and multilateral context by promoting Asia-Europe cooperation and dialogue on enhancing regional and global stability and prosperity.

The EU has become an increasingly important partner of the Philippines in its development thrusts.  It is the number one foreign direct investor in the country, our third largest export market and a major source of official development assistance.  The 5th ASEM Summit will afford the Philippines with opportunities to expand relations with the EU countries and the European Commission, as well as intensify regional cooperation and coordination between the Philippines and its Asian partners in ASEAN+3.  ASEM is unique because it is the only forum wherein a united ASEAN+3 interacts with the EU, now the world’s largest single market.

Leaders at the closed sessions of the Summit will discuss in an informal and casual manner, which is a characteristic of ASEM Summits, regional and international developments and global challenges; closer economic partnership between Asia and Europe; protecting cultural diversity; and the future directions of ASEM.  Three outcome documents are expected to be adopted by the Summit.  These are the Chairman’s Statement, an ASEM Declaration on Closer Economic Partnership, and an ASEM Declaration on Dialogue Among Cultures and Civilizations.

H.E. the President will be accompanied by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, the Secretary of Trade and Industry, and officials from the two departments.

A number of bilateral meetings between the President and her counterparts are being arranged.  These bilateral meetings will again be opportunities for the President to promote her 10-pt. agenda by way of setting the future directions of development cooperation with European partners, increasing trade in goods and services, and encouraging more European investments in strategic and job-creating sectors of the Philippine economy, such as biotechnology, infrastructure and ICT.

I intend to meet with the Head of the Italian Delegation, Deputy Prime Minister Gianfranco Fini, to discuss, among others, the welfare of Filipinos in Italy.  Meetings with the Foreign Ministers of the Netherlands, Lithuania and Korea are also being arranged.

The Philippines looks forward to launching its ASEM Oceans Initiative, co-sponsored by Portugal and the Republic of Indonesia at the Summit.  The initiative will establish an informal network of experts on the protection of the marine environment and formulate cooperative joint projects in marine scientific research and environmental protection between Asia and European ASEM members.  Asia can learn much from European experience and expertise in protecting the marine environment.

The Philippines will co-sponsor two other new ASEM initiatives: one on cooperation in combating the spread of HIV/AIDS with Sweden, the Netherlands, and Vietnam; the other on enhancing cyber-security with the Republic of Korea.

The Philippines believes that the ASEM 5 Summit will be a huge success and will give ASEM more focus, direction and momentum.  The Philippines commends the Socialist Republic of Vietnam for its efforts in making ASEM 5 a reality.

H.E. President will actively participate in the Summit as her show of support to Vietnam and ASEAN in particular, and the wider ASEAN+3 – EU cooperation that is reflected in ASEM. - END