Romulo to lead RP delegation to ASEM

MANILA, Philippines – President Aquino has designated Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo as his special envoy to the 8th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Brussels next week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

Romulo will head the Philippine delegation to the ASEM Summit from Oct. 4 to 5 and will be presenting the concrete actions undertaken by the Aquino administration regarding the summit’s main theme, “Quality of Life.”

Romulo said he will point out that “for humanity to progress, all nations must progress as one,” the same theme expressed by Aquino in his United Nations General Assembly speech last month in New York.

“We will underscore the importance of active cooperation between Asia and Europe (and what it) can do to achieve objectives on sustainable development, global economic governance, disaster risk reduction, migration and development and piracy prevention,” the DFA chief added.

The ASEM is an informal process of dialogue and cooperation bringing together 46 countries from Asia and Europe, including Russia, Australia and New Zealand, which will all be participating in an ASEM summit for the first time.

The ASEAN Secretariat and the European Commission brings the total ASEM membership to 48.

The ASEM dialogue addresses political, economic and cultural issues, with the objective of strengthening the relationship between the two regions, in a spirit of mutual respect and equal partnership.

During the summit, Romulo said he will take the opportunity to meet key leaders like European Union President and Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme and British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to promote greater engagement between the Philippines and their respective countries.

Pia-Lee Brago, Philippine Star