P-Noy, Prince Andrew discuss Phl, UK trade

LONDON – Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II sent her son Prince Andrew, the Duke of York,  to meet President Aquino to discuss relations between the Philippines and the UK.

Prince Andrew has been the United Kingdom’s special representative for international trade and investment  since October 2001.

The President, along with the members of his delegation, had a talk with Prince Andrew late Wednesday afternoon here at Buckingham Palace, and conveyed the best wishes of the Filipino people to the Queen on her diamond jubilee.

The President said he was happy to witness the important event in the history of the UK and was grateful that he was accommodated despite the jubilee celebrations.

Among Andrew’s are to support the Queen as head of state, promoting the UK as an attractive inward investment destination for foreign investors, creating more positive business conditions for British businesses investing overseas, and helping UK companies export their products to emerging and established markets.

Aquino and the Philippine delegation were honored with a luncheon hosted by the British government and presided over by Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) Minister Jeremy Browne and Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament and London Alderman David Wootton.

After Browne’s welcome remarks, Aquino said a deep and strong bond “exists between the people of the two countries, and that this has been reinforced through decades of interaction among its officials and peoples.”

He added there was great optimism about the Philippines and that the government intended to build on this positive development by providing an environment where investors could make a good profit under clear and consistent rules and regulations.

“Being one of our top European investors and the biggest source of tourists from Europe, we want the United Kingdom to take full advantage of what the Philippines offers: stable, value-for-money investment opportunities, including public-private partnerships (PPPs),” President Aquino said.

According to the President, he takes pride in some 250,000 Filipinos who live in the UK and positively contribute to British society and the nation’s economy.

He also expressed appreciation for the warm welcome extended to them by the British people.

Browne and Wootton visited the Philippines last December 2011 and May 2012, respectively, to reiterate the UK’s keen interest in the country’s economic and political developments.

It was the first official visit to Europe of Aquino and the first one hosted by the British government for some time.

“This visit is as much a reunion of friends as it is a reminder of a long-standing and close relationship. The Philippines and the United Kingdom, after all, have had a strong and productive partnership. And it promises to be even stronger and more productive,” Aquino said.