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