Fresh from hosting the just-concluded 12^th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo welcomed in Malacaņang this evening Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, who is in Manila on a two-day official visit to discuss the possibility of further expanding bilateral relations between China and the Philippines.

Wen, who had just come from Cebu, where he attended the 12^th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and related meetings, was met by President Arroyo on the Palace grounds at exactly 6:20 p.m.

China is a dialogue partner of the ASEAN along with Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and India.

Looking resplendent in an old rose-colored evening dress, the President shook hands with Premier Wen and ushered him to the platform fronting a platoon of Presidential Security Group (PSG) honor guards before the welcome ceremony began.

The President was joined by some of her Cabinet members in welcoming Premier Wen. Among them were Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, National Economic and Development Authority Director General Romulo Neri, Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila, and Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap.

Also present were flag officers and staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and members of the diplomatic corps.

A 21-gun salute boomed in the background as the PSG Band played the national anthems of the two countries in succession.

The President then led Premier Wen in a pass-in-review of the PSG honor guards.

After the welcome ceremonies, the President and Premier Wen proceeded to the second floor of the Palace where the latter signed the Presidential Guestbook.

President Arroyo and Premier Wen later proceeded to the Music Room for the "Meeting of the Two Leaders," which was followed by an expanded bilateral meeting.

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.