By Norman Bordadora
Philippine Daily Inquierer
Prosperous city-state Singapore recognizes the many opportunities for trade and investment in the Philippines, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said here on Friday after the bilateral meeting between President Benigno Aquino and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
“During the meeting, President Aquino emphasized the strengths of the Philippine economy and the many opportunities for trade and investment. These were recognized and welcomed by Prime Minister Lee,†said Romulo, who was with Mr. Aquino during the meeting.
“It is in this particular context that President Aquino expressed his satisfaction over the success of the recent air services negotiations between the Philippines and Singapore which would result in increased tourism flows and investments between the two countries,†he added.
Under the expanded bilateral air services pact, Singapore and Philippine carriers will be allowed to fly up to 14 weekly services to and from each other’s capitals.
These would translate to up to 32 flights a week by Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific to Singapore weekly.
Also present during the meeting were Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo.
Mr. Aquino thanked Lee for an invitation to visit Singapore.
He also thanked Lee for Singapore’s grant of scholarships to Filipinos to pursue their education in the city state.
In another bilateral meeting at the sidelines of the 65th United Nations General Assembly, Mr. Aquino reiterated an invitation to Malaysia for it to act as a mediator in the country’s peace negotiations with the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
President Aquino extended the invitation in a meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Abdul Razak.
President Aquino told the Malaysian leader the Philippines was ready to resume the stalled peace process in October. He assured the Malaysian leader of “his clear and complete commitment to the peace process and his determination to realize all our hopes and dreams for peace and Mindanao,†Romulo added.
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