Arroyo Expects Bush Visit to Deepen Friendship, Mutuality

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, September 12, 2003

Arroyo Expects Bush Visit to Deepen Friendship, Mutuality

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Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said Friday US President George W. Bush's upcoming visit will be both highly symbolic and substantive and expected to deepen and tighten friendship and mutuality between the two countries.

"The time may be short but the expected gains are undiminished.The Filipino people anticipate the Bush visit with anticipation and gladness," Arroyo said in a statement.

She said the event "will symbolize the conjoined strategic objectives of the Philippines and the United States for global peace, security and development; and continuing US engagement in Southeast Asia."

"It will further seal our pact against terrorism and poverty asthe United States gears for a broader post-conflict and rehabilitative role in Mindanao (the southern Philippine island),"Arroyo said.

She added it will substantiate the Philippine-US economic partnership as the United States remains to be the Philippine No. 1 trading partner and source of investment. "The bonds of friendship and mutuality will be deepened and tightened," she said.

Bush is expected to make an eight-hour visit to the Philippineson Oct. 18, which is considered as a gesture of thanks to Arroyo for her staunch support for the US-led war against terror.

An advance party from the US government has arrived here to coordinate with the local authorities, getting ready for the Bush visit, which is a stop over on his trip to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' summit from Oct. 20 to Oct. 21 in Bangkok.

Arroyo will also be among the 21 heads of APEC members who will attend the meeting.

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