National Convention Centre, Vientiane, Lao PDR
6 November 2012

President Benigno S. Aquino III held his final bilateral meeting with Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti on the last day of the 9th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 9) in Vientiane, Lao PDR.

In their scheduled meeting right after Plenary Session V at the National Convention Centre, the two leaders focused on enhancing bilateral relations, particularly in the area of defense and finance.

Europe is host to 746,701 Filipinos whose remittances amounted to US$2.1 billion in 2011. In Italy alone, there are an estimated 134,154 Filipinos as of October 2011. They constitute the sixth largest migrant community in the country.

*  *  *