Mrs. Arroyo pushed her proposal in separate meetings with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders and US President George W. Bush on Friday at the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ summit where she urged the US to support her initiative, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said.
The President also urged greater US support in the region’s fight against the global menace through capacity building and information sharing.
"That was the point of intervention of the President during the meeting," Bunye said.
"The President and the Philippines, as you well know, are very active in the fight against terrorism and this fight will continue. Terrorism is a menace that knows no boundaries and this requires cooperation of all nations," he said.
The meeting was held ahead of the two APEC leaders summit and was reportedly requested by Mr. Bush.
Bunye said the holding of regular joint meetings of the ASEAN, the US and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization — composed of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Uzbekistan — would allow for a coordinated and holistic approach to combating terrorism.
In her remarks at the ASEAN 7 meeting with the US president, Mrs. Arroyo pointed out that APEC, and the Philippine government in particular, have contributed to safeguarding trade facilitation and economic growth in the region.
She also noted the APEC Counter-Terrorism Task Force, headed by Ambassador Benjamin Defensor, was able to accomplish APEC objectives against terrorism.
Mrs. Arroyo also noted the Philippines currently heads the 1566 counterterrorism committee of the United Nations Security Council.
"On account, therefore, of our commitments and deepening engagements in this area, my government is happy to further advance the new security agenda in the ASEAN forum, ASEAN being the world’s most enduring regional security organization and the one keyed to many conflicts and disasters," she said.
The President noted the ASEAN and US Counter-Terrorism Work Plan are on the right track in efforts to combat the global scourge.
Mrs. Arroyo also reiterated her call to vigorously pursue inter-faith dialogue among ASEAN members to "stem the veins of radical thought that affect all of us."
She described the strategy of inter-faith dialogue as "soft power," and noted that "it is also asymmetric power, for it disarms with no need for weapons and wins the elusive peace without recourse to destruction.