New Zealand PM arrives next week

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark will arrive in Manila on Monday for a four-day official visit aimed at further strengthening economic and political ties with the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced yesterday.

The DFA said Clark’s visit from March 13 to 16 would coincide with the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and New Zealand.

The visit was initially planned in 2004 to follow the last high-level visit to New Zealand in September 1999.

Clark will arrive at 5:20 p.m. on Monday from Chile. She will be given arrival honors at the presidential lounge of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1.

During her stay in the country, Clark will grace the opening ceremony of the Regional Interfaith Cooperation for Peace, Development and Human Dignity that will be held at the Shangri-La Mactan Hotel in Cebu on the morning of March 14, visit ecotourism sites in Bohol and meet with top Philippine government officials.

President Arroyo will join Clark during the opening of the interfaith dialogue. The two leaders will then fly to Bohol for a bilateral meeting, the highlight of Clark’s visit, at the Bohol Beach Club. This will be followed by a dinner hosted by Mrs. Arroyo.

On March 15, Clark will depart for Pamilakan Island to visit New Zealand-assisted projects and do some whale watching on the side. She will then return to Manila, where she will be interviewed by state-run NBN 4 television and have lunch with Asian Development Bank officials.

Clark will depart for New Zealand Thursday evening. — Pia Lee-Brago, Paolo Romero