GMA meets with leaders of Australia and Japan

HUA HIM, THAILAND — The bilateral meeting with Pres. Gloria Arroyo and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at the Dusit Thani Hotel was one of the highlights of the 15th ASEAN Summit. 

The two leaders discussed the effects of climate change in their respective countries, noting that recent events including Tropical Storm Ondoy point to the unpredictability of climate patterns, even with more than 20 typhoons visiting the Philippines in a year.

Arroyo explained the devastating effects of strong typhoons as well as the heavy rainfall and drought also affected many parts of the country. Rudd also mentioned having similar climate change impacts in Australia, where many establishments were closed during the unpredictable weather patterns that had effects on the dairy industry and agriculture.

Rudd further expressed his happiness that Arroyo ratified the ASEAN-Australia New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) and thanked her for supporting this pact, which is an important mechanism for regional cooperation such as APEC and ASEM.

Rudd was also pleased by the invitation by Arroyo to visit the Philippines by next year.

In their first official meeting, Arroyo congratulated Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama on his election and the historic win of his party. She said she looked forward to a strategic partnership of the relations between RP and Japan.

Hatoyama also expressed his condolences to the victims of the recent typhoons that hit the Philippines and said that Japan is prepared to provide assistance to every possible extent and wished for the speedy recovery of the Philippines from the calamity.

Arroyo informed the Japanese premier that she created a Special Public-Private Partnership to undertake a study on the cost and how to implement the reconstruction of infrastructure and how to help the typhoon victims and seek new funds, in a form of grants, concessional loans that JICA is offering. Hatoyama said that Japan and RP have a “sound and good relationship” and understands the president’s ideas on the PPP. He also attached a great importance to the peace process in Mindanao and expressed hope that peace will materialize. — Valeriano Avila (THE FREEMAN)