Estrada to lead UN-ASEAN talks

President Estrada will fly to Thai capital of Bangkok tonight to present a working paper on how the United Nations (UN) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) can help each other in the 21st century.

The President, who will also be attending the 10th session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in the Thai capital, will be accompanied by a very small delegation, said Presidential Spokesman Fernando Barican.

"The Philippines will present a working paper to emphasize a number of convergent elements on the ASEAN's vision and the UN's agenda for development," Barican said.

ASEAN leaders will hold a round-table discussion with heads of various UN agencies before the UNCTAD session. During the discussion, Mr. Estrada will be presenting the Philippines' position on five major issues confronting the country at present.

Barican identified the five issues as the impact of globalization on development and poverty alleviation; the decline in the level of assistance given to developing countries; foreign investment; debt management and debt relief; and the liberalization of trade.

He added that the President is expected to set the tone of the discussion on the cooperation between the UN and ASEAN leaders.

Among those expected at the meeting are UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, ASEAN Secretary General Rodolfo Severino, and Mike Moor, director general of the World Trade Organization.

Barican said that while in Bangkok, the President will take the opportunity to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, who will also be attending the event.

Obuchi was responsible for the concessional loans granted by Japan to the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries hit by the Asian financial crisis.

"This will be an important meeting between the President and Obuchi," Barican said, noting that the Japanese leader wants to know the concerns of ASEAN heads of states before hosting the summit of the top eight nations of the world or the G8 this July.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Domingo Siazon and Deputy Executive Secretary Ramon Cardenas are expected to accompany the President.

The trip will be the President's first this year and his second to Thailand since his election in 1998.

He and his delegation will be returning to Manila on Monday. -- Marichu Villanueva