NAIA Terminal 2, Pasay City
04 November 2012

President Benigno S. Aquino III and his 60-member delegation left the country to participate in the 9th Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

In his departure speech, President Aquino stated that he will have meetings with ASEM members, including leaders of the European Union, Switzerland, Japan, Norway and Italy.

“Mula sa mga paksang pampulitika, ekonomiya, tanggulan, at kapakanan ng ating OFWs, makakaasa po kayo sa maigting na paglalatag natin ng solusyon upang mapatibay ang ugnayan at pagtutulungan natin sa mga nasabing bansa. Nananabik po ako, hindi lamang sa palitan ng ideya’t magaganap na talakayan, kundi lalo na sa mga kasunduang mahuhubog mula sa mga pagpupulong na ito,” he said.

He is also set to tackle with the leaders the Europe’s debt crisis and the West Philippine Sea dispute.

President Aquino will meet with the Filipino community in Laos upon his arrival there and will be back in Manila on November 6 after the two-day forum.

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