1st-asean-gcc-ministerial-meeting

 

Manama City – The Philippine government, a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), has reaffirmed its commitment to foster cooperation with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in the 1st ASEAN-GCC Ministerial Meeting held on June 28-30, 2009.

Ambassador Amable R. Aguiluz V, in his capacity as special envoy of the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, led a delegation of senior officials from the Philippines namely, DFA Assistant Secretary Eduardo Pablo M. Maglaya, ASEAN Director Roberto G. Manalo, OMEAA Director Raquel Solano, and Special Assistants to Special Envoy Ralph Calderon and Charles Joseph Ramos.

Aguiluz underscored the country’s importance in the exchange of views on international and regional issues, including exerting more efforts to enhance relations with the gulf region.

For the six member nations of the Arabian Gulf of GCC political, trade investment and cultural partnership with the ASEAN- the 10 countries in Asia-offers very strong opportunities. This is the thinking behind the history-making Ministerial meeting in Manama between two regional blocs.

The Ministerial meeting prioritized on the promotion of international peace and security, alleviation of poverty, human resource development, enhancement of trade and investment, protection of the government and sustainable development, fighting terrorism and extremism, and the encouragement of cultural and media exchange and cooperation.

Already the GCC is collectively a single market worth around one trillion dollars.
By 2020, according to calculations of the Economist Intelligence Unit, the common Gulf market will have doubled again in size to two trillion dollars.  “The are two trillion reasons for ASEAN, which include the Philippines, to form a future partnership with the GCC, “ Aguiluz said. He added that the GCC is committed as ASEAN to make sure that the GCC partnerships succeeds.

The aims of GCC with ASEAN are ambitious but – based on GCC’s track record- they are attainable in a very short period of time.

 

 

 

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