Ex-PHL president: China to become responsible stakeholder in peace

Despite its run-ins with the Philippines on the Spratly Islands, China should become a “responsible stakeholder" in peace and stability, former President Fidel Ramos said this week. Ramos made the claim at the launch of his authorized biography in Washington D.C., the Philippine Embassy to Washington reported. A news release posted on the embassy’s website quoted Ramos as saying “China today is tightly connected to the global economy" and “a constructive Chinese role in organizing enduring peace and stability would demonstrate China’s commitment to become the ‘responsible stakeholder’ that Washington has challenged Beijing to become." On the other hand, he said the United States remains a “dependable ally under the 1951 Philippine-US Mutual Defense Treaty and a long-standing friend and partner – to help us protect and advance our shared security interests." He added Filipinos “continue to believe America still plays a positive role for all the world." Ramos is on a 17-day trip to the United States. He launched his first authorized biography, “Trustee of the Nation – the Biography of Fidel V. Ramos," written by Dr. Scott Thompson. Thompson is a retired Professor Emeritus of the Fletcher School of Tufts University. He also co-authored “Democracy and Discipline," a book on the Ramos presidency. In Washington, Ramos also spoke on “Asia’s Rise and America’s Role in the Emerging Power Balance" at the Southeast Asia Studies Program of Johns Hopkins University and “The US-Philippines Alliance" at the Heritage Foundation. The second event was organized to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Philippine-US Mutual Defense Treaty. Ramos also co-chaired and addressed the 6th Global Meeting of the Emerging Markets Forum (EMF) in Warrenton, Virginia last September 25 to 27. The EMF is a non-profit organization established in 2005 upon the initiative of the Washington-based Centennial Group, a policy-consultancy firm led by former top executives of the IMF and World Bank. It holds a global meeting and several regional meetings every year, provides research, and serves as a venue for high-level dialogue on socio-economic and political issues affecting emerging markets. For this year’s meeting, the focus was on “Enhancement of Latin American and Asian Economic Links," “Reform of the International Monetary System," and “Role of Europe in the Global Economy." — LBG, GMA News