P-Noy arrives in Spain

MADRID – President Aquino arrives here today for the first leg of his European trip, during which he aims to push for various concerns, including the West Philippine Sea dispute, trade and investment, as well as issues concerning overseas Filipino workers.

Aquino and his delegation are expected to arrive in the morning at Torrejon Airbase on chartered Philippine Airlines flight PR 001.

The President is set to meet with former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar at the Intercontinental Hotel and then lead a wreath laying ceremony at the Rizal Monument.

He will also speak before the Filipino community at Colegio Nuestra Señora de las Maravillas and then hold various business meetings with Grupo Actividades de Construction y Servicios, Abengoa, Calidad Pascual, Ineco, Globalvia, Acciona and Indra at the Intercontinental Hotel.

Tomorrow, Aquino will have a bilateral meeting with Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy at Palacio de la Moncloa and get an audience with King Felipe VI at Palacio de la Zarzuela.

He will then proceed to Belgium for the second leg of his trip, and then to Paris and Berlin later in the week. Aquino’s visit to France will be the first for a Philippine head of state since 1994.

The Philippines is the only country that receives official development assistance from Spain because of the two countries’ shared history and special friendship.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, the President will discuss the lifting of tariffs on Philippine goods entering Europe. Aquino will also bring up before European leaders the efforts of Manila to comply with rules on the exportation of fish and fish products, as well as the welfare of the Filipino seamen.

Aquino will seek support for the country’s position on the West Philippine Sea and on Mindanao peace and development.

The Philippines has been calling on other countries to back the Philippines in its push for a peaceful resolution of its territorial and maritime dispute with China.

US next

After his European trip, Aquino will fly to the US where he is set to address the UN General Assembly in New York on the severe impact of climate change in the world.

He will have a speaking engagement at Harvard University in Boston.

It has been 33 years since the Aquino family’s exile in Boston. The President was then 21 years old.

Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. of the Presidential Communications Operations Office said the President’s meetings with European and US leaders would further polish the country’s image and attract investors.

Accompanying the President on his trip to Europe and the US are 10 Cabinet secretaries – including Coloma – as well as representatives from Philippine business groups.

The French embassy said on Friday military honors await Aquino at the Arc de Triomphe.

The President would later be led to the Elysée Palace for a bilateral meeting with French President François Hollande, as well as to witness the signing of agreements on culture, education, transportation and communications, among others.  – Delon Porcalla, Pia Lee Brago