Bush invited to visit RP in October

WASHINGTON (via PLDT) — President Arroyo will formally invite United States President George W. Bush to make a reciprocal state visit to the Philippines in October, when he attends the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit in Bangkok, Thailand.

Mrs. Arroyo said she would invite Bush to make a side trip to Manila.

She arrived in the US capital Sunday afternoon to begin her three-day official visit, which will be highlighted by her bilateral talks with Bush in the Oval Office of the White House.

The President, along with First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, their three children and two daughters-in-law flew from Los Angeles to Washington’s Dulles International Airport.

From there, they were picked up by two AH3 military helicopters that ferried them to Fort McNair for the traditional military honors accorded to a visiting head of state.

On the eve of her meeting with Bush, the President told the Philippine media delegation here that she would take the opportunity to renew her standing invitation to the American leader.

Mrs. Arroyo and the First Gentleman will be accorded full honors at the White House lawn this morning, before her bilateral meeting with Bush.

In her first press conference with Philippine media since she arrived in the US last Saturday, the President spoke in broad terms of the agenda of the bilateral discussions with Bush on economic, security and defense cooperation.

She announced her anticipation that Bush would support the $75-million benefit package for some 10,000 to 12,000 Filipino World War II veterans living in the US.

Earlier, the President mentioned one economic package when she was in Los Angeles, the study to be undertaken by the US to lower transaction costs on the dollar and other foreign currency remittances of overseas Filipinos in the US and other parts of the world.