MANILA, Nov. 11 — President Benigno S. Aquino III on Monday thanked Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper for Canada’s assistance for the rehabilitation of areas in Eastern Visayas devastated by Typhoon Yolanda last year.
“The President thanked Canada for the support that it had provided, overwhelming support for the victims of Yolanda,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said in a press briefing at the Philippine Embassy in China.
“He wanted to know what the progress was in terms of the reconstruction and rehabilitation, so the President explained where we are on that,” he told the Philippine media delegation.
During their bilateral meeting, President Aquino told his Canadian counterpart about the limitations that have to be taken into account and what are achievable, del Rosario said, adding that Prime Minister Harper was quite pleased with the developments being done by the government in Eastern Visayas.
The two leaders also discussed President Aquino’s visit to Canada in 2015, he said, noting that an invitation has been extended for President Aquino to visit Canada but this has not materialized.
They talked about the inclusion of the Philippines as a country of focus in Canada’s development program, said del Rosario.
“There was also a benefit given to the Philippines in terms of a trade priority under what they call a GMA program, which focuses on providing two-way trade and market access to the Philippines,” he said.
President Aquino and Prime Minister Harper touched on international issues, such as the application of international law in resolving regional disputes as well as the threat of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
Del Rosario emphasized the need to address the major threat posed by the ISIS, saying the international community cannot ignore the crimes and atrocities that the terrorist group has committed.
“We must take a position against those who perpetrate crimes against humanity,” he said.
On the Philippines’ preparations for the 2015 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Manila, del Rosario said the President thanked Canada for its support for the country’s chairmanship next year.(PCOO/ PND (as)