Aquino cool to invites for overseas trips

By RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News

Posted at 11/01/2010

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III doesn’t seem likely to do much travelling overseas anytime soon despite numerous invitations from other countries.

After arriving from the 17th Asean Summit in Vietnam, Aquino is headed for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Japan later this month.

He told reporters that if he had his way, the Vietnam trip would be his last for the year but added that going to the APEC summit is important for the country.

The President said he received invitations to visit several countries including Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia. He said he replied to all the invitations in a diplomatic manner.

“Ang sinabi ko lang, at the appropriate time. Diplomat na tayo ngayon. Na-pi-picture ko pa rin ang dami ng ating naiiwan na problema dito. So naintindihan naman nila, sabi ko apat na buwan pa lang tayo, baka puwedeng tukuyan ko ng lubos na pansin ang mga problema dito," he said.

In the case of Myanmar, Aquino said he will consider visiting the country if it shows a strong determination to be fully democratic.

“Definitely, that will help them stabilize and solidify that onward movement to full democracy. ”

Aquino said Myanmar’s leadership has assured him that they are open to observers in their democratic processes. “Sabi ng kanilang Premiere, opened to observers from embassies, the UN agencies, and they can monitor everywhere. 3,000 candidates vying  for 1,000 positions. Access to media raw sigurado yon.”

He, however, said he maintains support for Myanmar’s democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.

Aquino’s Vietnam trip is just his 2nd since assuming office. He broke tradition by making his first overseas trip to the United States instead of an ASEAN country.

 Aquino had previously indicated that unlike his predecessor, he won’t be leaving the country frequently.

Meanwhile Aquino used the opportunity to pitch to other countries the Philippines' infrastructure projects on public private partnerships schemes.

”There is interest. That is the  best I can say at this point in time. We gave them the books, detailed first 10 and other potential projects. Pero yung pagkaabot mo at sasabihin nilang interesado kami dito, that's too much to expect naman yata. The mere fact that they accepted the books and really were going through it and saying that they are interested. There are other countries that are trying to do public private partnerships so we will know in a few days time when we launch it," he said.

He added: "I think it is safe to say at this point in time that there will be significant interest. And when we go to Japan for the APEC, it will be harder because there are more parties involved. Yung the side trip in Japan also will be to get more investors. I am told that it might even be better than what we produced in America and significantly better.”