Arroyo leaves for Asean summit in Thailand

After missing the opening of the event, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo left for Thailand Saturday morning to attend the 15th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in Thailand. Government-run dzRB radio reported Mrs. Arroyo boarded a flight for Thailand at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 past 10 a.m., and gave no departure speech. She is expected to be back in the country at 9 p.m. Sunday, the dzRB report said. Mrs. Arroyo postponed her scheduled trip to Thailand on Friday because of then Typhoon Ramil, which had earlier been expected to make landfall early Saturday. [See: Erratic Ramil may not make RP landfall] First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and officials led by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita saw Mrs. Arroyo off. An earlier Palace statement said Mrs. Arroyo while in Thailand will attend the summit and related activities at the seaside resorts of Cha-am and Hua Hin in Thailand. One issue that would be discussed at the gathering is the recommendation to establish a free trade agreement between South East Asia and East Asia. Asean member countries include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Palace said the Asean leaders will likewise meet with the six dialogue partners: China, India, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea. The three-day Asean conference was due to launch a pivotal but sharply criticized human rights commission and discuss how best to achieve economic integration by 2015. It also will include talks with the leaders of Asia's major powers, including China and India. [See: Arroyo, other leaders miss opening of Asean summit] The leaders of Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines did not arrive in time for the opening of the 10-nation bloc's meeting. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen is hosting an official visit by South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, Indonesia is swearing in a new government and Malaysia's government was presenting its budget to Parliament, said Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya. - with an AP report, GMANews.TV