TULOY ang byahe ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. patungong Brussels, Belgium mula Disyembre 12 hanggang Disyembre 14 para dumalo sa ASEAN-EU Summit.

“This is very important for the Philippines and for the president because the PH is currently the country coordinator of ASEAN in its relations with the EU. For two more years we will be the country coordinator. We were instrumental in cooperation with the EU and other members of ASEAN in preparing for this summit,” ayon kay Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) – Office of ASEAN Affairs Assistant Secretary Daniel Espiritu sa pre-departure press briefing sa Malakanyang.

Tinuran nito na ang papel ng Pangulo ay mahalaga sa bagay na ito.

Inaasahan na magsasalita ang Pangulo sa ilang okasyon kabilang ang pagbibigay ng opening remarks sa summit proper ng commemorative summit.

Magbibigay rin ang Pangulo ng omnibus intervention bilang country head ng delegado ng Republic of the Philippines at matapos ito ay sa closing ceremony.

“He is also expected to be one of the officials who will give the closing remarks. In fact right after that even at the press conference he will be one of the ASEAN-EU officials to participate in the press conference. Apat lang sila dun sa press conference but the President will be one of them,” ayon kay Espiritu.

“This trip will not only focus on ASEAN-EU relations, sa kinagabihan merong Gala dinner itong ASEAN-EU summit but earlier in the day, in the first half of the day on the 14th merong meeting si Presidente with the business community. There will be one on one meetings with big corporations who will be expanding their presence in the PH, that means more jobs and investments for us Filipinos. There will be a business round table with EY and European corporations during which the President will have the opportunity to expound on our trade and investment policies to attract trade and investments from Europe. Then kasama rin ang networking among Filipino businessmen and European businessmen,” dagdag na pahayag ni Espiritu.

Sa kabilang dako, isa sa miting ni Pangulong Marcos ay sa key European corporations gaya ng Unilever, Ocea, Acciona, at Simaris.

Bukod dito, makikipagpulong din ang Pangulo sa Filipino community sa Disyembre 12, 2022.

Inaasahan naman na magdaraos ng 10 bilateral meetings ang Pangulo sa sidelines sa 10 bansa.

Sinabi ni Espiritu na ang mga bansang ito ay Belgium, Estonia, Czech Republic, Spain, Denmark, Germany, Poland, Finland, Netherlands at European Union. (CHRISTIAN DALE)