Philippines and Indonesia begin talks this week<\/p>\n
MANILA (AFP): The Philippines and Indonesia are to hold
\nbilateral talks this week to discuss issues ranging from trade,
\nmaritime boundaries to the recent developments in the South China
\nSea, official sources said here yesterday.<\/p>\n
The Filipino diplomatic sources, who asked not to be named,
\nsaid the three-day discussions starting Wednesday would involve
\nsenior ministers from both countries.<\/p>\n
On Friday, Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas is scheduled
\nto arrive for talks with Philippine Foreign Secretary Domingo
\nSiazon, they added.<\/p>\n
Aside from discussing measures to bolster trade and
\ninvestment, the two Southeast Asian neighbors are also expected
\ntackle closer cooperation in the fields of forestry, agriculture,
\ncommunication, defense, education, energy and tourism, the
\nsources said.<\/p>\n
Jakarta -- the Philippines' 15th largest trading partner --
\nenjoyed a US$293.12 million surplus in two-way trade with Manila
\nwhich totaled $437.78 million last year.<\/p>\n
Indonesian investments, however, totaled only $175,000 in
\n1994.<\/p>\n
Jakarta is supervising peace talks between the Philippine
\ngovernment and the Moslem rebel group, the Moro National
\nLiberation Front, to end more than two decades of fighting in the
\nsouthern Philippines.<\/p>\n
On regional issues, both sides are expected to discuss the
\nprogress of the emerging East ASEAN Growth Area (EAGA), which
\nincludes the Philippines' southern Mindanao island, east
\nMalaysia, east Indonesia and Brunei, as well as the security
\nsituation in the disputed Spratly islands.<\/p>\n
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations groups Brunei,
\nIndonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and new
\nmember Vietnam.<\/p>\n
Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam, along with
\nChina and Taiwan, have laid partial or entire claims on the
\nSpratlys -- a potentially oil-rich chain of coral reefs and
\natolls in the South China Sea.<\/p>\n
The discussions are expected to focus on how to defuse tension
\nin the area sparked by China's missile-testing exercises last
\nmonth near Taiwan and Beijing's perceived expansionist
\nintentions.<\/p>\n
Indonesian and Philippine officials are also expected to
\nbriefly touch on efforts to delineate their maritime borders.<\/p>\n
But a more extensive discussion of the issue is scheduled
\nduring a separate meeting in the southern Philippine city of
\nDavao in November, Filipino Foreign Undersecretary Rodolfo
\nSeverino said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/philippines-and-indonesia-begin-talks-this-week-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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