Canadian PM arrives in Manila Friday night for 3-day visit

8:58 pm | Friday, November 9th, 2012

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper AP PHOTO/IVAN SEKRETAREV

MANILA, Philippines—Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper was to arrive in Manila Friday night for a three-day visit.

Prime Minister Harper is being accompanied by his wife, Laureen Harper, Minister for International Trade Ed Fast, Minister for Natural Resources Joseph Oliver, Senator Tobias Enverga Jr., who is the first Filipino-Canadian senator, and 10 Filipino-Canadian community leaders.

They were to arrive on board a chartered plane at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 at around 9:30 p.m.

The visit of Harper is the highest-level visit of a Canadian official in the last 15 years, or since Prime Minister Jean Chretien brought a business delegation to the Philippines in 1997, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Canada is an active trading partner of the Philippines. The Philippines has reportedly become Canada’s No. 1 source of immigrants and overseas workers, with over 800,000 Filipinos now residing in that country.

Harper is on the second leg of an Asian trip. The Canadian delegation earlier visited India. They will depart for Hong Kong Sunday.

The DFA said Harper will meet with President Aquino and the members of the Cabinet Saturday. The two heads of government will discuss the “upward trajectory” of Philippines-Canada bilateral relations, the department added.

During the visit, Aquino and Harper will witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Philippine Department of National Defense and the Canadian Commercial Cooperation on government-to-government transactions in defense and military-related procurements

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Tags: Diplomacy , Foreign affairs , Philippines , Stephen Harper

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000149260213 Jun Separa

we should give importance to Canada, not the U.S., until obama is gone!

Datingkailan

obama is a joke from day one.

http://twitter.com/nonentity80 L.A.

morons like you should not be allowed near a computer

http://twitter.com/AlimtheWrath Alim A

i know why freak neocon harper is in the philippines…it is all for votes in the next election just like what he did in the province of new brunswick in 2004 when he promised graduating students $2000 cdn dollars each after they graduate from university and in canada he knows that is vote buying and punishable under the election law but this freak like aquino always makes a gracious exit from the crime.
http://twitter.com/AlimtheWrath Alim A

in canada, canadians call harper a control freak who always runs to the governor general and ask to prorogue parliament when he feels that his conservative gov’t will fall on a non-confidence vote and comes back calling for a snap election.

rtsantos2012

Negative comment about our distinguish and world respected visitor is not going to help our country, what is your beef anyway?
Guest

You are a very sick and hateful socialist loser. Lying liberals and communist NDP are your allies. Indoctrinated socialist like you are the scourge of humanity. Parasitic belief of entitlement is your mantra at the expense of other. He won a majority 2 years ago and you are still bitter and refused to accept the defeat of your rotten and corrupt comrades. Go away and move to North Korea where you belong.

123dudley

wow the two brain cells in your skull must be very lonely

rtsantos2012

Harper is starting to recognize the future political power and influence of the Filipino-Canadian in Canada hence the appointment of Sen. Enverga in the Senate. I will not be surprised that soon the Liberal and the NDP will soon follow Harper in enticing more Filipinos living in Canada to join their rank. If anybody recall, it was Trudeau who first recognized the variable talent of the Chinese and I think Harper now too recognized the Filipino talent for a fruitful business relationship in the future.
justice_league03

Prime minister Stephen Harper, i feel sorry for you. you are about to get an earful of senseless bragging and unnecessary jokes form our president. and as bonus, possible spit all over your face. welcome to the Phils
JJF724

Government to Government transaction on purchases of defense and military hardware is cost savings and remove the risk of corruption… Bravo… another excellent job by PNOY.
Bonggebongge

Ayan mga nasyon sa WEST at sa Europe, panay na bisita sa Pinas, sige ang mga bumabatikos batikos na…paalala lang kapag may ginhawa ang Pinas damay kayong mga mangbatikos at manggulo lang ang alam…konting pasensya dadating din sa ginhawa…

Canadian PM arrives in Manila Friday night for 3-day visit

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