Arroyo receives hero's welcome in Brunei capital<\/p>\n
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Agencies): Philippine President Gloria
\nMacapagal Arroyo received a hero's welcome from expatriate
\nFilipino workers Wednesday as she arrived for a three-day visit
\nto Brunei.<\/p>\n
Bringing plans for increased cooperation in defense and
\nmaritime transport, Arroyo was officially received by members of
\nthis oil-rich nation's royal family before receiving an audience
\nwith Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.<\/p>\n
But she was also greeted at the airport by a 400-strong
\ngathering of Filipinos, who waved the country's flag, cheered her
\nand snapped photos. About 20,000 Filipinos live in this country
\nof 300,000 people.<\/p>\n
Arroyo visited a garment factory in the port of Muara, where
\nseveral hundred Filipino textile workers, mostly women, crowded
\naround her.<\/p>\n
Arroyo praised overseas Filipinos for contributing remittances
\nthat help the country's foreign exchange and vowed that her
\ngovernment would defend the welfare of expatriate workers.<\/p>\n
\"We are setting up more schools, building more houses and
\nintroducing more and more welfare activities, and there is no
\ncause for worry for you,\" Arroyo said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra arrived in
\nSingapore on Wednesday for an official two-day visit expected to
\nfocus on bilateral and regional issues.<\/p>\n
Thaksin was welcomed by Singapore's Prime Minister Goh Chok
\nTong at the Istana state complex, where the leaders inspected a
\nguard of honor.<\/p>\n
Singapore and Thailand said on Wednesday they will work to
\nhelp regional group ASEAN regain its position as a major area of
\ninvestment and trade in the world.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong met his Thai counterpart Thaksin
\nShinawatra on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Talks centered on strengthening already strong trade links
\nbetween the two countries, boosting Singapore investment in
\nThailand, and lending more support to the Association of
\nSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN).<\/p>\n
\"Singapore and Thailand will work together to strengthen
\nbilateral ties and reinvigorate ASEAN,\" Goh said in a speech to
\nmark the Thai premier's visit.<\/p>\n
Goh said the standing of ASEAN had diminished since the 1997
\nregional crisis and the organization had also suffered as member
\ncountries dealt with economic and political difficulties, the
\nemergence of China, and the current economy slowdown.<\/p>\n
The two leaders agreed to narrow the development gap between
\nmembers of the grouping and to facilitate the integration of its
\nnewer members.<\/p>\n
Thaksin's visit to Singapore precedes that of Philippines
\npresident Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who arrives for a three-day
\nvisit on Friday and Indonesia's President Megawati Soekarnoputri
\nwho arrives for a two-day stay on Sunday.<\/p>",
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