President Benigno S. Aquino III left for a seven-day visit to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and the United States of America Monday afternoon hoping the trips could strengthen economic and bilateral relations with those countries.
The President s first stop will be the UK to meet Prime Minister David Cameron, British investors and the Filipino community in that country. The President noted the importance of the visit saying the UK and the Philippines have been enjoying strong economic relations in the past several years.
From London, the President will fly to the US to meet President Barack Obama.
President Aquino said he will personally thanked Prime Minister David Cameron when they meet in London for the UK s contributions to the growth of the Philippine economy.
The UK is also the country s partner in strengthening political cooperation as well as maintaining peace and security, the President said.
Sa katunayan, kabalikat natin ang United Kingdom sa pagpapataas ng antas ng kakayahan ng ating kapulisan at pagbuwag sa pandaigdigang pamamagitan ng Regional Counter Terrorism Investigations Management Course, he said in his departure speech at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2.
Aktibo rin silang nakikibahagi sa International Contact Group upang higit pang mapatatag ang usapang pangkapayapaan sa Mindanao. Tumulong din ang UK sa matagumpay na pagtataguyod at implementasyon ng Citizen's Charter sa ilang LGU s, na bahagi ng ating Anti-Red Tape Act na naglalayong matiyak na malinaw at matapat ang mga transaksyong nangyayari sa pamahalaan, he added.
In the business front, the chief executive said he will join business meetings with the leading British and European investors while in London.
He said he will also witness the signing of business deals with Shell, Gaz Asia and Aboitiz, Rolls Royce and Cebu Pacific.
Those comapnies could contribute a lot to the growth of the Philippine economy particularly in areas of information technology and business process outsourcing, renewable energy, electronics, as well as public-private partnership (PPP) projects.
From the UK, the President will go to the US to meet President Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and American lawmakers. The President is also scheduled to meet Filipino community in Los Angeles, California.
The US, being the country s leading trading partner and contributor to foreign direct investments, the President said he expects his trip will be fruitful for the benefit of the Philippines.
Among his major agenda in his meeting with Obama, Clinton and US congressional leaders will be economic cooperation, trade and investment as well as closer partnership in the field of science and technology.
Magkatuwang po tayong hahanap ng mga makabagong paraan upang maiangat ang antas ng buhay at kalusugan sa bansa, tulad ng ating isinasagawa ngayon sa ilalim ng Partnership for Growth at Millennium Compact, the President said.
Susuriin din natin ang kasalukuyang pagtutulungang pang-seguridad upang makita kung paano higit pang mapapalakas angkakayahan ng Pilipinas bilang kanilang kaalyado sa pagpapanatili ng kaayusan sa rehiyong Asya-Pasipiko, the President added.
President Aquino said he would persuade American businessmen to come to the Philippines to invest noting the reforms he has initiated have started to bear fruit making the country more conducive to businesses.
The President also assured the people that his trips to the UK and the US are for the benefit of Filipinos. His administration has been sowing the seeds of better friendships with those allies so that the Philippines could reap its benefits in the future, the President said.
Manatili lamang po tayong nakatutok sa kapakanan ng ating kapwa, at huwag tayong lumihis sa tapat na pamamahala, at hindi po magtatagal: mapipitas natin ang bunga ng isang mas maunlad, at mas mapayapang bansa, he said.