May 12, 2006

THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES REVIEWS WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES BILATERAL RELATIONS AND REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ISSUES. KING ABDULLAH OFFERS THE KING ABDUL AZIZ DECORATION TO ARROYO. PRINCE SALMAN REVIEWS WITH ARROYO ISSUES OF MUTUAL INTERESTS. THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES VISITS SAGIA, IMPORTANT SITES IN THE EASTERN REGION AND HOLDS A MEETING WITH BUSINESSMEN AND MEMBERS OF CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz and Philippines' President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo held a session of talks. At the outset of the meeting, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques welcomed the President, wishing her and the accompanying delegation a good stay in the kingdom. On her part, the Philippines President thanked King Abdullah for a warm welcome and generous hospitality accorded to her and the accompanying delegation. Later, King Abdullah decorated the president with King Abdul Aziz necklace. In turn, the president conferred on the king ''Sikatona necklace'', the highest medallion in the Philippines. During the talks, they discussed the latest developments at the regional and international arenas topped by the Palestinian issue and the situation in Iraq. Aspects of cooperation and ways of their enhancement in all fields were also reviewed. on the Saudi side, the meeting was attended by Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General; Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, Minister of Interior; Prince Sattam Ibn Abdul Aziz, vice governor of Riyadh region; Prince Miqren Ibn Abdul Aziz, chief of general intelligence; a number of ministers and officials. On the Philippines side, it was attended by secretary of foreign affairs Alberto Romulo; secretary of labor and employment Patricia Santo Thomas; secretary of trade and industry Peter Favila; secretary of energy Raphael Lotilla and a number of officials accompanying the president. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Al Saud held a dinner party at his palace in Riyadh in honor of the president of the Philippines Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the accompanying delegation. The party was attended by Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General; Prince Fahd Ibn Mohammed Ibn Abdul Aziz; Prince Abdullah Ibn Mohammed Al Saud; Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, minister of interior; Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, the governor of Riyadh region; a number of princes; ministers; and senior civil and military officials. Philippines' President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her accompanying delegation arrived on a several-day visit to the kingdom. At riyadh airbase, they were received by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz; Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General; Prince Miteb Ibn Abdul Aziz, minister of municipal and rural affairs; Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, minister of interior; Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, the governor of Riyadh region; a number of princes; ministers and officials. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah accorded a red carpet welcome to the Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who visited Saudi Arabia for the first time as head of state. After the welcome ceremony, Arroyo and her delegation proceeded to the Al-Yamamah Palace where King Abdullah hosted a state dinner, according to Special Envoy Antonio P. Villamor. "President Arroyo's visit focuses on three Os Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), and oil," said lawyer Gilberto B. Asuque, spokesman of the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has underlined the importance of her visit to Saudi Arabia and said it will open a new page in the bilateral relations. In a statement published in Jeddah-based Okaz Arabic newspaper, Arroyo said the visit will provide her with a good opportunity to express her respect to the Saudi people and leadership. "I will convey a message of love and respect to the country of Islam and peace," she said hoping that the visit will realize the desired goals. She pointed out that her first visit to the Kingdom comes after the two trips of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz to a number of Asian countries. "We will discuss the Saudi-Filipino relations in all domains in addition to the situation of the Filipino community in the Kingdom, whose number is estimated at about two million," she added. The Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said she was looking forward to a fruitful four-day state visit to Saudi Arabia, which she considers a close ally. arroyo cited the continued support of Saudi Arabia in the peace negotiations between her government and Muslims in the southern Philippines. "the Filipino people value and appreciate very much Saudi Arabia's active support of our peace initiatives and the development projects, particularly in Mindanao where many of our Muslim brothers live," she said shortly before leaving for Macau en route to Saudi Arabia. "I certainly have high hopes for the future of our relations and I hope that my visit to Saudi Arabia will further strengthen our ties, reinforce commitments as well as open new avenues for cooperation and engagement," she said. "I particularly admire the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah's leadership in the international fight against terrorism and I wish to assure him of the Philippines' wholehearted support," she added. Arroyo was also expected to discuss fuel prices with King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, since the Philippines imports about 40 per cent of its oil needs from the kingdom. Philippines' Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alberto Romulo has highlighted the pioneering role of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in enhancing the pillars of global peace and stability. In a statement to Jeddah-based Okaz Arabic newspaper, he said the current visit of Philippines' President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to the Kingdom will open a new page for strategic partnership between the two countries. "Moreover, it will give a new impetus to the Saudi diplomacy for heading towards the Eastern Asia which owns huge economic and human capabilities. "The Saudi-Filipino relations will further foster in the next stage, notably in the political, investment and oil domains', he said ."It will also pave the way for the two countries to coordinate their efforts for combating terrorism." He noted that Philippines has voiced support to the proposal of the Kingdom to establish an international center for combatting terrorism. The Philippines' Secretary of Foreign Affairs said his country supports the principle of coexistence, moderation and dialogue as approved at the extraordinary Islamic Summit, held last year in Makkah. Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Riyadh region, received President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of Philippines. They reviewed aspects of cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Philippines. The meeting was attended by a number of senior officials. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of Philippines visited the headquarters of Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) where she met its governor Amr al-Dabbagh. They reviewed aspects of cooperation between SAGIA and Philippines in various domains of investment. Al-Dabbagh briefed Arroyo on the strategy of SAGIA and the domains on which it has been focusing to attract investments. The meeting was attended by a number of senior officials including Saudi ambassador to Philippines Mohammed Ameen Wali as well as some members of the Saudi-Filipino business council. The Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo held a meeting with Saudi and Philippines businessmen council and members of the council of Saudi chambers of commerce and industry. During the meeting, a speech was delivered by the Philippines President who called for increased Saudi investment in the Philippines. President of the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry also delivered a speech during the meeting highlighting the importance of Saudi and Philippines businessmen meetings to strengthen relations between the two countries. The Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo received at her guest residence at the conference palace in Riyadh prince Al Waleed Ibn Talal, the President of Al-Mamlakah Holding Company. During the meeting Prince Al Waleed Ibn Talal and President Gloria discussed the aspects of cooperation in the fields of economy and financial investment between the Kingdom and the Philippines. Arroyo and her delegation proceeded to the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CSCCI). Abdul Rahman R. Al-Rashed, CSCCI chairman, in his welcome address, expressed happiness over the visit of Arroyo and her delegation. Arroyo also addressed the gathering, which included 32 Filipino businessmen who met later in the afternoon for possible business deals with Saudi counterparts. The Filipino delegation included a Saudi, Khalid D. Al-Faddagh, who is the president and CEO of Petron Corp. As part of Arroyo's visit, Labor Secretary Patricia Tomas opened a joint project of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and Microsoft Saudi Arabia yesterday afternoon. Tomas and OWWA Administrator Marianito A. Roque at the Philippines Overseas Labor Office (POLO) inside the Diplomatic Quarter (DQ) are members of Arroyo's delegation. Tomas represents the labor sector while Roque is concerned with affairs of the OFWs. "The joint project aims to develop the full potentials of OFWs who are willing to train for free in different modules, like spreadsheet, presentation and Internet," Welfare Officer Merto Mercado said. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of Philippines arrived in Jeddah from Riyadh within the framework of her current visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. She was welcomed at King Abdul Aziz International Airport by Prince Misha'al Ibn Majed Ibn Abdul Aziz, the governor of Jeddah, and a number of senior officials. Philippines' President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo left Jeddah for the Eastern Province, as part of her current visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. She was seen off at King Abdul Aziz International Airport by Director General of the Royal Protocol Court Mohammad Nazir. The Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the accompanying delegation visited the headquarters of Saudi ARAMCO. She was received at the headquarters by Saudi ARAMCO's President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abdullah bin Saleh Juma'ah and other senior officials of the company. Later, a film entitled "Energy For the World" focussing on Saudi ARAMCO's role in supplying the world with energy needs, was shown to President Arroyo and her accompanying delegation. Then, she also toured the company's exhibition where she was briefed on the development of gas and oil industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in addition to a pavilion that includes important aspects of Islamic heritage. Arroyo also visited "Al-Khair 7" oil well which was discovered by the company seventy years ago. Arroyo watched a huge electronic wall through which an enormous network can be screened and controlled. After that, Deputy Chairman of Refinery, Marketing and International works in Saudi ARAMCO Abdulaziz Al-Khayyal delivered a speech on behalf of all Saudi Executives who had been on secondment from the company to work in the Filipino Petron Company. He expressed appreciation to Philippines' people and business sector for their services and support to develop Saudi expertise. Arroyo visited "Shaibah" oil field, where she had been briefed on the central processing and production facilities and the nature of the desert environment of "Al-Rube' Al-Khali". At the end of her tour, Juma'ah expressed his appreciation to Arroyo for her visit that bolsters friendship ties with the Filipino National Company Petron pointing out that the huge Shaibah project with its harsh environment shows the Kingdom's will to supply the world with the necessary needs of energy. On her part, Arroyo expressed her appreciation to Saudi ARAMCO for its great efforts, describing Shaibah region as "amazing and highly-developed". Also, she stressed that Saudi ARAMCO is a dependable partner, expressing her wishes to broaden cooperation avenues and economic and industrial relations between Saudi ARAMCO and Philippines National Company Petron. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo left Dhahran en route for the Philippines after a several day state visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. She was seen off at King Abdul Aziz Air Base in Dhahran by Prince Mohammed Ibn Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, Governor of the Eastern region, senior civil and military officials and Philippines Ambassador to the kingdom Antonio Filyamor.