21 April 2016 - Deputy Speaker Giorgidi B. Aggabao told a gathering of parliamentary leaders from Europe and Asia that the Philippines is committed to the peaceful settlement of the conflicting claims in the South China Sea in accordance with international law at the First Meeting of Speakers of Eurasian Countries’ Parliaments in Moscow on April 19.

Deputy Speaker Aggabao further elaborated that prosperity and stability are inseparable and that one cannot exist without the other stating, “All our efforts in building our economies and improving the lives of our peoples will be for nothing if we cannot find ways to settle disputes peacefully and in accordance with international law.”

“It is in this light, and after other reasonable means had been exhausted, that the Philippines turned to the arbitration procedure in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.  The decision of the Arbitral Tribunal will be binding and paves the way for the peaceful and rules-based management and, ultimately, resolution of the disputes in the South China Sea,” Deputy Speaker Aggabao added.

Deputy Speaker Aggabao represented Speaker Feliciano R. Belmonte, Jr. at the meeting which was organized on the initiative of Chairman Sergey Naryshkin of the State Duma of Russia and Speaker Chung Ui-Hwa of the Parliament of the Republic of Korea. The theme of the meeting was “Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation for Joint Prosperity of Eurasian Countries in the XXI Century.” 

In his remarks, Deputy Speaker Aggabao thanked both officials “for bringing us together and for giving us this excellent opportunity to exchange perspectives on issues of common concern.”

The Deputy Speaker also cited the role of parliaments in building stronger international ties, saying “In building firm foundations for cooperation, legislative bodies have an integral role to play in bringing our continents closer together.”  He cited in particular the work of members of the Philippine Congress who, in the past twelve months “have been to Russia to strengthen transport links, promote tourism, and discuss mining cooperation.”

“Most importantly, our Senate President, the Honorable Franklin M. Drilon, visited in November last year at the invitation of Federation Council Chairperson Madame Valentina Matviyenko… and had a productive visit and was even given the rare honor of addressing a session of the Federation Council,” he added.

In terms of fostering economic cooperation with other countries, the Deputy Speaker said that with high annual GDP growth rates, a stable political outlook and a favorable demographic situation, the Philippines is “expanding its economic horizons and looks forward to broadening its economic partnerships.”

While in Moscow, Speaker Aggabao also met with Mr. Vladimir Andreichenko, Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus.  They agreed to further strengthen parliamentary ties between the Philippine and Belarus as well as to work together to improve trade, investment and tourism movements between the two countries.  They also discussed the need to conclude some pending bilateral agreements.

Speakers of Parliament and their representatives from Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Russia, Tajikistan, and Viet Nam were present at the meeting. END