GMA to visit Vietnam, China before stepping down from office

MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo is scheduled to visit Vietnam early next month, just weeks before she steps down from office on June 30.

Presidential spokesman Ricardo Saludo said Mrs. Arroyo is scheduled to attend the 19th World Economic Forum on East Asia to be held at Ho Chi Minh City from June 6 to 7.

“This event is significant because it will give us a chance to present our successful conduct of the elections, which could improve investor confidence, and secondly, we could reiterate our strong economic fundamentals,” Saludo said.

The President is also expected to grace the Philippine National Day celebrations on June 9 at the country’s pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo.

He cited the fact that the peso remains strong and the country’s international reserves are at their all time highs despite the global recession, oil price surges and other challenges.

“Now is the best time for the investors to come to the Philippines,” he said.

The theme of this year’s forum is “Rethinking Asia’s Leadership Agenda.”

The WEF said East Asia’s lead in the global economic recovery has been underscored by increasing regional economic cooperation, robust domestic consumption and coordinated government stimulus measures.

“Alongside the remarkable economic momentum and progress of China and India, ASEAN’s market of 580 million consumers is moving towards economic integration by 2015,” the WEF said.

The program “will explore the many facets of the region’s rising economic influence such as how high-growth economies can improve their competitiveness through developing innovation driven, green economies. At the same time, the discussions will consider to what extent ongoing regional integration will serve as the basis for Asian leaders to assume a greater leadership role in global cooperation.”