US, Japan and China top three in Philippine foreign policy consideration

The Philippine government Tuesday said that it will continue to take the role of the United States, Japan and China in world security as a major consideration in the direction of Philippine foreign policy.

Presidential spokesman, Ignacio Bunye, who is accompanying Presidential Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Retreat in Chile, said before boarding the plane for Mexico that the president values the Philippines' diplomatic and economic ties with these three countries.

"The president has a strong personal relationship with the leaders of these countries and the Philippines has a strong strategic relations with their nations," Bunye said.

The president is confident that the Philippines' close ties with the United States, China and Japan "will propel not only our security programs, but also our efforts to fight corruption, enforce good governance, and grow investments to bring in more jobs," he added.

During the APEC summit in Santiago over the weekend, President Arroyo held meetings with US President George W. Bush, Japan Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, and Chinese President Hu Jintao.

In a two-hour bilateral talk, Arroyo and Bush discussed a wide range of issues involving their countries' common interests, while during her meeting with Prime Minister Koizumi, the two leaders agreed to further accelerate Japan-Philippine economic partnership, according to Bunye.

In her meeting with Hu, Arroyo reaffirmed the Philippines' continuing commitment to the one-China policy.

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Roberto Romulo said that the friendship that developed between President Arroyo and Hu "is strong and robust and continues to grow."

"Nothing can really deter from that friendship," he said.

Bunye said that the prime role of the United States, Japan and China in the peace and progress of the world will also continue to influence Philippine foreign policy and the president is determined to forge strategic diplomacy at the highest levels of leadership.