(4 Jun 2005)
1. Wide shot of interview with Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
2. Cutaway to cameraman
3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Philippine President
"Together with the United States we've been upgrading our capability and fusing our intelligence to fight terrorism especially in the south. We've
been able to neutralise a hundred known international terrorists, both those who grew up in the Philippines and those who sneaked into the
country, including for instance Fathur Al-Ghozi who was the one who planned the planting of explosives at the US embassy in Singapore."
4. Two shot of interview
5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Philippine President
"Our relations with China have improved tremendously and I think they will continue to improve. Our trade with China has grown by leaps and
bounds, it's over 13 billion dollars now from virtually nothing before they entered WTO or before I made my state visit to China the first time
in 2001 and the balance of trade is almost 5 billion dollars in our favour so we will, I'm sure we will continue to have good economic
relations with China. Now as far as the US government is concerned no less than President Bush thinks that it's good for us to be friends with
China."
6. Reverse shot of interview
7. Medium shot of Arroyo
8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Philippine President:
"We've been active in this call for Myanmar's increasing the pace of its democratic reforms but what I would say in general is that ASEAN is
strong and these debates over Myanmar in ASEAN will make it even stronger."
9. Wide shot of interview
STORYLINE:
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo shrugged off constant coup rumours, sagging popularity and corruption
allegations against her family, vowing Saturday to implement more reforms to kick start the Philippine economy.
Arroyo was generally upbeat in a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press, reiterating "total commitment" to the war against
terrorism, lauding increased cooperation with China that has yielded nearly a US$5 billion trade surplus for Manila, and promising to cut red
tape and improve infrastructure.
"Together with the United States, we've been upgrading our capability and fusing our intelligence to fight terrorism, especially in
the south," Arroyo said, adding that Washington continues to provide training and materiel support to the Philippine military, with delivery
expected within a few weeks of 30 helicopters.
Washington and other allies have expressed concerns that Muslim separatist training camps in the south have been used to teach
international terrorists how to make bombs.
Arroyo, sworn in to replace Joseph Estrada when he was forced from office in January 2001 amid mass protests over his alleged corruption,
was elected to a full six-year term last year. Constitutionally prohibited from seeking another term, she promised to implement needed
reforms no matter what the political fallout.
Arroyo said U.S. President George W. Bush endorsed Manila's warming ties with China.
"Our relations with China have improved tremendously, and I think they will continue to improve," she said. "Our trade with China has
grown by leaps and bounds. It's over US$13 billion now from virtually nothing before they entered WTO... and the balance of trade is almost
US$5 billion in our favour."
She also backed efforts within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to bring about democratic change in Myanmar.
strong and these debates over Myanmar in ASEAN will make it even stronger."
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