The success of the ASEAN and East Asia summits is an unstoppable force that will help drive the Philippine agenda in the years to come.

The horizon is open for great challenges and opportunities, in fielding Filipino excellence through a broader regional market of services, sharing technology in alternative energy sources, bringing collective resources to bear upon pockets of instability, and enforcing democracy and human rights.

A fitting sequel to the summits is the visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to Manila, which puts another milestone to our golden age of partnership with China; and my trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos that will gather the business moguls of the world in search of destinations of excellence and investments.

Japan and China provide indispensable leadership for our region, alongside the United States as a strategic partner in the fight against terror and poverty. As we gear towards the realization and implementation of all the accords reached, we call on the Filipino people to be focused on the ball and not be distracted by the empty wind of partisan politics.

Let us strike while the iron is hot and move forward with the rest of ASEAN and East Asia.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo hailed last night the two-day official visit to the Philippines of Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao as another milestone to the golden age partnership between the Philippines and China.

The President made the remarks as she and Premier Wen witnessed the signing in Malacaņang of several agreements that would further broaden economic and trade cooperation and other aspects of bilateral relations between the two countries.

Wen arrived in Manila Monday afternoon from Cebu where he attended the 12^th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and related meetings hosted by the Philippine government. China is one of the dialogue partners of the 10-member ASEAN.

Upon arrival at the Palace grounds at 6:20 p.m. yesterday, Wen was officially welcomed by President Arroyo and other top Philippine government officials.

After the arrival honors, the two leaders held a 20-minute meeting at Malacaņang’s Music Room. This was followed by an expanded bilateral meeting at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room.

The President and Premier Wen first witnessed the signing of the Framework Agreement on Expanding and Deepening Bilateral Economic and Trade Cooperation between the Philippines and China during simple rites at Malacaņang’s Reception Hall.

The agreement provides the framework to further strengthen economic and trade cooperation as well as to promote two-way investment in the next 10 years between the Philippines and China.

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director General Romulo Neri, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Thomas G. Aquino and Vice Minister Liao Xiaoqi of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) signed the document.

The second agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between the Philippines and China was signed by Neri and Liao.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and Liao signed the third document on a framework agreement on the provision of concessional loan by China to the Philippines.

The fourth document is the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on expanding and deepening agriculture and fisheries cooperation between the two countries. It was signed by Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap and Vice Minister Yin Chengjie of the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture.

Another MOA between the Department of Agriculture and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) of China in the field of sanitary and phytosanitary measure was signed by Secretary Yap and Minister Li Changjiang of the Chinese General Inspection.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the AQSIQ of China signed a MOA on cooperation on industrial products safety.

An agreement on the Protection of Cultural Heritage was signed by National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Chairman Ambeth Ocampo and State Administration of Cultural Heritage of China Director General Shan Jixiang.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the loan agreements on the utilization of US$500 million Preferential Buyer’s Credit between the Department of Finance (DOF) and the Export and Import Bank of China, and the loan agreement on the provision of US$500 million Preferential Buyer’s Credit Loan for the Northrail Project Phase 1, Section 2, were signed by Finance Secretary Margarito Teves and Li Ruogu, governor of the Export-Import Bank of China.

Two contract agreements to upgrade and rehabilitate the existing North and South Luzon Railway Projects were also signed during the visit of the Chinese prime minister.

The first contract agreement is between North Luzon Railways Corporation and China National Machinery Industry Corporation for the Northrail Project Phase 1, Section 2. It was signed by Jose L. Cortes Jr., president of Northrail, and Ren Hongbin of China National Machinery and Industrial Corporation.

The Engineering Procurement and Construction Contract for the Rehabilitation and Upgrading of the Philippine Mainline of the South Luzon Railway Project Phase 1, Section 1, was signed by Jose Ma. Sarasola, general manager of the Philippine National Railways (PNR), and Jiang Xinsheng, president of China National Technical Import and Export Corporation.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today she considered the newly-signed Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers as one of the pillars of success for the Filipino people of the just ended 12^th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Cebu.

The President expressed this assessment during a roundtable discussion this afternoon at Malacanang’s Kalayaan Press Briefing Room on the significant outcomes of the Jan. 10-15 ASEAN and East Asia summits which she chaired.

She made special mention of the declaration binding the signatory countries to protect the fundamental human rights, promote the welfare and uphold the dignity of migrant workers, including nurses, in accordance with the summit’s theme of "One Caring and Sharing Community."

The President, in her statement at the closing of the Cebu summits Monday, said that the agreement on migrant workers "is a commitment to promote decent, humane, productive, dignified and remunerative employment for migrant workers."

During the roundtable discussion, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said that the agreements reached during the 12^th ASEAN Summit would be a big help for the growth and welfare of the Filipino people.

Romulo said the Cebu Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of the Migrant Workers under the leadership of President Arroyo will protect and enhance the welfare of the Filipino migrant workers.

He explained that the agreement provides the migrant workers with access to health, education, social services and judicial system of each ASEAN member state.

President Arroyo also considered trade in services as another triumphant pillars of the ASEAN summit. This was supported by Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila who said that despite the difficulties faced during the trade negotiations on the summit, he had made it a point that in the end, "the Filipino people will benefit from it."

Labor Secretary Arturo Brion likewise hailed the signing of the declaration on protection of fundamental human rights of migrant workers by the ASEAN leaders.

Brion noted that this was the first time that a multilateral agreement on migrant workers had been signed.

"Natutuwa po ako at kasama nito ay mayroon tayong ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement on Nursing Services. Iyon pong pag-recognize ng ating mga nurses dito sa Pilipinas at ng kanilang sertipiko. With this type of agreement, marahil po ay hindi na magpapakalayo-layo ang ating mga nurses, dito na lang sa malapit sa Pilipinas sila magpupunta," he said.