GMA off to US for state visit

President Arroyo left last night for an eight-day state visit to the United States on board a Philippine Airlines commercial flight.

She is expected to arrive in Los Angeles today, and proceed to Los Angeles Cathedral to meet with Roger Cardinal Mahony.

The President will also attend mass with some members of the Filipino community in Los Angeles, after which she will be at a cocktail reception with Filipino-Americans at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

After an overnight stay in Los Angeles, the President will fly to Dulles Airport in Washington. She and some members of her official party will board two helicopters provided by the US government that will take them to the grounds surrounding the Washington monument for state honors.

Mrs. Arroyo and her husband, First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, will then be escorted to Blair House, the US government’s official guest house, where she will stay during her Washington visit.

On Tuesday, US President George W. Bush will formally welcome Mrs. Arroyo and her husband in ceremonies to be held at the South Lawn of the White House. The two leaders will then go to the Oval Office for a bilateral meeting.

Malacañang officials said the President’s US trip is expected to further strengthen the two countries’ partnership in counter-terrorism and expand the level of cooperation in trade and investments.

The two leaders are expected to discuss defense and security cooperation, particularly in the fight against terrorism.

They are also expected to talk about humanitarian and reconstruction efforts in Iraq, preferential trade agreements, intellectual protection and equitable benefits for Filipino World War II veterans.

The US state department will host a state lunch for Mrs. Arroyo and her official delegation, and a state dinner at the White House.

A number of government-to-government and private sector agreements are set to be signed by the two leaders during the state visit. — Mayen Jaymalin