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23 October 2006 |
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President meets visiting Thailand Prime Minister in Malacaņang |
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PGMA lauds Surayud for efforts to bring back normalcy in Thailand |
| President meets visiting Thailand Prime Minister in Malacaņang |
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo welcomed in Malacanang this afternoon Thailand’s interim Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont who arrived in Manila for a five-hour official visit as part of his Southeast Asian tour after he was installed in a peaceful coup last September. The President received Prime Minister Surayud at the Malacanang main entrance with foyer honors. The originally scheduled arrival honors at Malacanang grounds were cancelled due to prevailing bad weather in Manila immediately before the Thai leader arrived on board a special aircraft A319 at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City. The President escorted Surayud to the second floor of the Palace and assisted him in signing the Guest Book before proceeding to the Music Room for a brief leaders’ meeting. After their One-on-One talk, the President accompanied the Thai leader to the Music Conference Room for an expanded bilateral meeting. Cabinet officials present in the bilateral talks were Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, Trade Secretary Peter Favila, Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla, and Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap. During their meeting, the President and the Thai prime minister agreed to further strengthen the bilateral ties between the Philippines and Thailand, specifically their partnership in investment development, among others. She also conveyed to Surayud the desire of many countries for Thailand to move quickly to restore political normalcy. Prime Minister Surayud explained to the President the political reforms of his leadership at home, including enhancement of diplomatic cooperation under the framework of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) which the Philippines currently heads. They also discussed the coming ASEAN-China meeting later this month, along with other topics which include regional security. Prime Minister Surayud was installed last Oct. 1 after the Thai military ousted his predecessor Thaksin Shinawatra. Before his Manila visit, the Thai prime minister had been to Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, and Indonesia. He is scheduled to visit Vietnam later this week, according to Thai Foreign Ministry Spokesman Kitti Wasinond. |
| PGMA lauds Surayud for efforts to bring back normalcy in Thailand |
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo lauded last night new Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont for his "roadmap to constitutional democracy" that aims to steer Thailand back to civilian rule. The President issued the remarks during the official dinner she hosted for the visiting prime minister at Malacaņang’s State Dining Room Monday night. Surayud, a former Thai Army chief, arrived in Manila Monday afternoon for a five-hour official visit as part of his familiarization tour of Thailand’s fellow members in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). "Your Excellency, the community of nations, especially ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), wishes you all the best as you undertake the task of advancing the cause of democracy and peace to nourish the indomitable spirit of Thailand," the President said at the traditional toast before the start of the official dinner. "And we’d like to congratulate you as you very clearly presented your roadmap to constitutional democracy which you hope to complete within a year’s time. We thank you very much for your very strong commitment and we hope that you will have every success," she said. In her speech, the President told Gen. Surayud that his visit to Manila signifies the continuity of good Thailand-Philippines relations. "I’m confident that our evolving bilateral relations will continue to fuse with ASEAN’s deeper integration in the context of "One Caring, One Sharing Community," she stressed. "Economic cooperation between our countries remains in the pink of health," the President told Surayud, noting that the Philippines and Thailand have a steady growth of interaction. She said more than 7,000 Filipinos are working and living in Thailand while almost 1,200 Thais stay in the Philippines to work, study or simply to enjoy Filipino hospitality. The President said that as chair of this year’s ASEAN Summit, the Philippines has gained support from its neighboring nations, specifically Thailand under the leadership of PM Surayud, "in promoting the interest of collective peace, stability and progress" within the region. She said that in their bilateral talk, they had candid and enlightening discussions on more than half a century-old relations between the Philippines and Thailand both of which are gaining much headway in their economic and diplomatic ties. For his part, Surayud assured the President that his government is "determined to expedite Thailand’s path to the full restoration and revitalization of democracy." The Thai prime minister met with the President shortly after arriving in Malacaņang and he gave a bird’s eye view of his plans to steer Thailand back to civilian rule. The Manila visit came toward the end of Surayud’s regional tour, during which he had sought to reassure his ASEAN counterparts of Thailand’s return to normalcy following last month’s putsch. Surayud expressed optimism that with the Philippines support, the Royal Thai government will be able to succeed in its efforts to bring back normalcy in Thailand. He also said that the Thai government is very happy to share common perceptions on political, security and economic development with the President. With regards to the upcoming ASEAN Summit in Cebu, Surayud said he is confident that President Arroyo will lead ASEAN to more successes. "I look forward to your leadership, making concrete benefit on the basis of shared interest and mutual respect. You have our full support for the upcoming summit in Cebu and further years ahead," he said. |