Canadian prime minister to visit Phl on Nov. 9

MANILA, Philippines - Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is scheduled to make an official visit to the Philippines on Nov. 9.

Based on initial information gathered by The STAR, President Aquino is preparing for the visit and for his three remaining foreign trips for the year.

Canada’s Globe and Mail newspaper reported on Oct. 24 that the Philippines looked poised to play a greater role in Canadian foreign policy.

It said that in June, the federal government signed a memorandum of understanding with Manila for the establishment of a joint commission for bilateral cooperation.

It reported that Harper was expected to visit the Philippines in mid-November after a week-long trip to India.

The trip is “mainly to talk about (how to) expand our economic cooperation,” the Globe and Mail quoted Philippine Ambassador Leslie Gatan as saying. Gatan also talked about Manila’s eagerness to work with Canada on defense and agriculture, among other areas of interest.

Aquino arrived Friday night from state visits to New Zealand and Australia.

Aquino told reporters in Sydney of his forthcoming trip to Laos on Nov. 5 to 6 for the Asia-Europe Meeting, and to Cambodia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit on Nov.18-20.

He said his last trip for the year – Dec. 20-21 – would be to New Delhi for the ASEAN-India Commemorative summit.