Royal Suites London Heathrow
4 June 2012

Onboard Philippine Airlines flight PR001, President Benigno S. Aquino III arrived at the Royal Suites London Heathrow at 9:36 pm (4 June 2012; London time) to officially begin his three-day official visit to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from 4-6 June 2012.

The United Kingdom is the first country in Europe that President Aquino is visiting as Head of State and it also marks the first official visit of a Philippine President to U.K. in over a decade.

President Aquino was met at the airport by Philippine Embassy officials led by Ambassador Enrique Manalo, Minister Noel Fernandez and Consul General Bernadette Fernandez.

Among the Cabinet members accompanying the President in the historic visit to U.K. include DOTC Secretary Mar Roxas, DOF Secretary Cesar Purisima, DTI Secretary Gregory Domingo, DOT Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Jr., DOE Secretary Jose Rene Almendras and PCDSPO Secretary Ramon Carandang.

Formal diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the United Kingdom were established on 4 July 1946. The U.K. is the largest European investor in the country and is the 23rd trading partner of the Philippines. It is also the country’s biggest tourism market in Europe and is home to about 250,000 Filipinos.

From the airport, President Aquino and the rest of the delegation proceeded to Intercontinental London Park Lane Hotel which will serve as the official accommodation of the Chief Executive throughout his visit.

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