18 May 2006 – The Department of Foreign Affairs announces that the President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, H. E. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, will arrive in the Philippines for a State Visit from 19 – 22 May 2006 with the theme “Forging New Relationships from a Common Past.”

Assistant Secretary for Middle East and African Affairs Oscar G. Valenzuela said that President Obiang will arrive in Manila at 12:00 noon on 19 May 2006 at the Villamor Air Base.

Arrival ceremonies will be accorded President Obiang at Malacanang at 3:00 p.m.   President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and President Obiang will immediately hold the Leaders’ Meeting at 3:30 p.m. in Malacañang where they will discuss partnerships and joint ventures, especially in the field of oil exploration, extraction and processing.

President Obiang is then scheduled to lay a wreath at the Rizal Monument at 9:00 a.m. the following day.

During his Visit, President Obiang will be visiting tourist spots in Bacolod and Pangasinan and agricultural and aquaculture project sites in these two provinces.  He is also scheduled to meet members of the Philippine Congress and business leaders.

President Obiang will end his State Visit to the Philippines on 22 May 2006.

Assistant Secretary Valenzuela said the visit by President Obiang would provide an opportunity for the Philippines and Equatorial Guinea to further improve bilateral relations and to discuss new avenues for cooperation, especially in the energy sector, for the benefit of both peoples, including the 2,500 OFWs in Equatorial Guinea.

The Philippines recognized Equatorial Guinea on 28 November 1968.   The Philippine Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria, headed by Ambassador Masaranga R. Umpa, has concurrent jurisdiction over Equatorial Guinea.   Ambassador Umpa presented his credentials to President Obiang on 11 December 1997.

The Republic of Equatorial Guinea is a Central African country with an area of 28,050 sq. kms. bordering the Bay of Biafra and sharing borders with Cameroon and Gabon.  In Bioko Island, formerly called Fernando Po, lies Malabo, the capital city of Equatorial Guinea which has an estimated population of 540,109 as of 2006, 80 percent belong to the Fang tribe.   Equatorial Guinea’s total proven oil reserves are estimated at 1.28 billion barrels.   END