(OTTAWA, Canada) President Benigno S. Aquino III reviews the honor guards during the welcome ceremony at Rideau Hall for his State Visit to Canada. (MNS photo)
OTTAWA, Canada (Mabuhay) — President Benigno S. Aquino III flew to Ottawa, the first stop of his three-day state visit to Canada, on Thursday (Friday in Manila) after completing a successful one-day working visit to Chicago.
Shortly after his arrival in Ottawa, President Aquino traveled to Rideau Hall, the official residence of Canada’s governor general, where he was welcomed by Governor General David Johnston and Mrs. Sharon Johnston with military honors, including a 21-gun salute.
After the official welcome at 2 p.m. (local time), President Aquino held talks with Governor General Johnston at the Large Drawing Room, Rideau Hall. The meeting was followed by a tree planting ceremony.
President Aquino planted a red spruce (Picea rubens) on the grounds of Rideau Hall to commemorate his state visit to Canada. It was located beside the red maple that was planted by President Aquino’s mother, former President Corazon Aquino, during her state visit to Canada in November 1989.
Later at 6:30 p.m. (local time), President Aquino will attend a state dinner at Rideau Hall hosted in honor of the President’s visit by Governor General Johnston and Mrs. Johnston.
On Friday (Saturday in Manila), the President will participate in a tête-à-tête meeting with his Canadian counterpart, Prime Minister Stephen Harper. They will also witness the signing of agreements that will strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.
President Aquino’s visit to Canada will focus on building on people-to-people ties, strengthening trade and investment relationship, and expanding cooperation on development and regional security between Canada and the Philippines.
The three-day state visit, which will include stops in , Toronto and Vancouver as well, is President Aquino’s first visit to Canada since taking office in 2010.
Philippine Ambassador to Canada Petronila Garcia said the visit is a “reciprocation” of the visit of Prime Minister Harper to the Philippines in 2012.
Garcia said the visit is also an opportunity for the President to “reconnect” with the Filipinos in Canada, which is home to almost 700,000 Filipinos.
“This is a very important visit because it comes in a very good time. Canada is at the juncture where it is expanding its horizon towards Asia, and the Philippines is the fastest growing economy in the region,” Garcia said.
After Ottawa, President Aquino, accompanied by the Philippine delegation, will travel to Toronto on Friday (Saturday in Manila) after which he will proceed to Vancouver. (MNS)