President Benigno Aquino III. MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU
President Benigno Aquino said Sunday the Philippines would raise the issue of the overlapping claims to the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) during a summit of Asian and European leaders in Laos this week.
On the sidelines of the 9th Asia Europe Meeting (Asem) Summit in Vientiane, Mr. Aquino is expected to conduct bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Italy, Norway, Poland, Switzerland, the European Council and European Commission.
“At a time when parts of Asia and Europe are facing crisis and uncertainty, it is important for leaders of the two regions to discuss issues they are burdened with,” he had said in his departure speech.
Among other issues, the President said, the leaders would talk about increasing economic cooperation and seek ways to limit the impact of the fiscal crises hobbling some European nations.
Mr. Aquino said the Philippines would seek “suggestions on ways to craft a just and peaceful agreement on the West Philippine Sea.”
The Philippines has been engaged in a standoff with China over a disputed shoal since April.
China claims the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal and nearly all of the South China Sea, even the waters close to the coasts of neighboring countries. The Philippines says the shoal is well within its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.
Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei also claim parts of the sea.
Mr. Aquino has insisted that solving the dispute needs a multilateral approach, but China has pushed for solving the problem bilaterally with each country involved.
The President also intends to meet with European leaders to drum up more investments for the Philippines. He hopes to attract ventures from Russia, Finland and Spain, in particular.
Europe is the Philippines’ third largest trade partner after North America and Asia. Trade with Europe amounted to P546 billion in 2011, while investments from the European Union reached P33.3 billion.
The topics up for discussion at Mr. Aquino’s bilateral meetings with his European counterparts include the European Union’s concern over the Philippines’ maritime training and certification system and compliance with air safety standards; cooperation in disaster risk reduction and management; the peace process; maritime and labor cooperation; and defense and higher education.
The President is also expected to make migration issues a priority, considering that the Philippines sends many workers to other countries. Europe is host to 746,701 Filipinos and 25 percent of Filipinos seafarers abroad work on European-flagged vessels.
Energy security will also be a priority. Other matters up for discussion are climate change and sustainable development.
At the summit, the President will promote mining, energy, tourism, textiles and agriculture as sectors in the Philippines to invest in.
He will also promote these sectors before Lao businessmen as part of efforts to kick-start the sluggish business relations with the Southeast Asian country, which has only six million people, according to a Malacañang statement.
At present, Laos has no recorded investment in the Philippines. Likewise, Filipinos have not made any investments in Laos.
“However, the Philippines hopes to strengthen its relationship with Laos through the promotion of specific sectors such as agriculture, textile, mining, energy and tourism,” the statement said. Reports from Leila B. Salaverria and AFP