Garcia, GMA leaving for South Korea today

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia would be leaving with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today for South Korea and Russia.

The governor will be with the President to attend several bilateral meetings in South Korea. They are set to leave the country at 11 a.m. today.

The first meeting in South Korea would be the Korea-ASEAN Economic Forum, which will be held at Jeju National University on Monday.

The finance minister of South Korea, trade minister of Indonesia, undersecretary of trade of the Philippines, Southeast Asian director of Asian Development Bank and the investment head of the Inter-American Development Bank are among the major participants to the forum.

From South Korea, President Arroyo and Garcia will then fly to Russia.

Garcia said she will sign an agreement with the St. Petersburg officials in the presence of President Arroyo.

Provincial Board Members Agnes Magpale, Victor Maambong and Victoria Carominas will also witness the signing.

Saint Petersburg is the most western city of Russia.

As Russia’s political and cultural center for 200 years, Saint Petersburg is sometimes referred to as Russia’s northern capital.

A large number of foreign consulates, international corporations, banks and other businesses are located in Saint Petersburg. — Johanna T. Natavio/LPM (THE FREEMAN)