PRESIDENT Aquino is set to fly mid-week to Canada and the US on economic-diplomatic missions, and also visit Filipino communities in these two countries. Communications Secretary Herminio B. Coloma Jr. confirmed that on May 6, Mr. Aquino is traveling with a number of Cabinet officials for a scheduled three-day state visit to Canada.
“Nakatakdang maglakbay si Pangulong Aquino kasama ng ilang miyembro ng Gabinete sa bansang Canada upang simulan ang tatlong araw na state visit na maglalayong ibayo pang patatagin ang ugnayang pang-ekonomiya at diplomatikong relasyon sa pagitan ng Pilipinas at Canada,” Coloma said on Sunday.
The secretary recalled that Mr. Aquino earlier accepted an invitation extended by Canadian Gov. General David Johnson, the first state visit by a sitting Philippine President since 18 years ago when President Fidel V. Ramos visited Canada in 1997.
Coloma said President Aquino and Prime Minister Stephen Harper will witness the formal signing of a number of agreements seen to boost people-to-people relations and solidify the two countries’ ties on labor cooperation, development assistance and infrastructure development. The Palace official recalled that last year, Canada announced the designation of the Philippines as a “country of focus” for development assistance, as well as a “priority emerging market” for Canadian overseas trade and investment.
In the second leg of his latest foreign trip, Mr. Aquino and his delegation will fly from Canada for a one-day “working” visit to Chicago before flying home to Manila by weekend.
“Tutungo rin ang Pangulo at ang kanyang delegasyon sa lungsod ng Chicago sa Estados Unidos para sa isang araw na working visit upang makipagpulong sa mga negosyanteng nais mamuhunan sa bansa at makipagtalakayan sa Filipino community,” Coloma said.