09 December 2005 – The Department of Foreign Affairs today announced that H.E. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will lead the Filipino people in welcoming H.E. President Roh Moo-Hyun of the Republic of Korea on his state visit to the Philippines on 14-16 December 2005.

The Department said President Roh will visit the Philippines to return President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's state visit to Seoul in June 2003. The meeting between the President and President Roh will be their second.

The Department stressed that “President Roh's state visit would be an opportunity for both countries to further strengthen their political and economic ties which currently could be described as very good.”  Korea ranks as the ninth largest trading partner of the Philippines. It is also a major source of foreign direct investments in the country.  Korea has invested heavily in the Philippines' electric power plants and contributed to the electrification of the countryside. Korean investments in the Philippines accounted for 36.5 percent of total foreign direct investments in 2005.

Tourism is also a promising area of Philippine-ROK relations due to a fast growing trend in people-to-people contacts. Korean tourists account for 16.5 percent of total tourist arrivals to the Philippines in 2004. Their arrivals are expected to reach the half a million mark by year end.

As a major provider of Official Development Assistance (ODA), particularly those earmarked for priority development projects and programs in President Arroyo's 10-point agenda, President Arroyo and President Roh will witness the launching of the Northrail-Southrail Linkage Project and inauguration of the Information Technology Training Center in Quezon City, projects which the Korean government helped finance.  The Department explained that the Northrail-Southrail Linkage Project will develop a fast, safe, comfortable and reliable commuter rail service to the south of Manila by modernizing the PNR commuter train services from Caloocan to Alabang.

The project involves the strengthening of the tracks and bridges, double tracking, installation of signals and communication systems and procurement of twenty-one diesel railcars.  The Philippine-Korea Information Technology Center in Quezon City will advance the training capacities and capabilities of our very own Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in providing information technology training for Filipinos.

Agreements in the field of social security, construction and road works as well as agreements in cooperation in the field of mineral resources are expected to be signed during the state visit.

President Roh has also been invited to speak before the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry. END