The Philippines hosted last year's ASEAN Summit. With President Arroyo's personal efforts, and together with the support of other ASEAN leaders, a strong political ASEAN Leaders Statement on Doha came out of Cebu last December.
It was important, not only because it showed the political determination of ASEAN leaders to work collectively for an early and successful conclusion of the Round, but also because it was a helping hand extended to the multilateral trading system when it needed it most.
This Statement did not go unnoticed. It gave a strong and positive push for the resumption of the negotiations and I would like to pay tribute to President Arroyo's personal efforts.