WAM Manila, April 19th, 2012 (WAM) -- Benigno S. Aquino, President of the Republic of the Philippines opened today the second consultative ministerial meeting of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue II at the International Convention Center in Manila.

UAE Minister of Labour Saqr Ghobash, along with Labour Ministers of the GCC countries were present at the opening ceremony which was also attended by Mousa Abdul Wahid Abdul Ghaffar Al Khaja, UAE Ambassador to the Philippine and UAE delegation.

The event is attended by 14 ministers and a number of senior officials from the Governments of the concerned States, including the GCC. Philippines Vice President Jejomar Binay was also present among the attendees.

Addressing the opening session President Benigno said: " Abu Dhabi Dialogue 2 is of great significance to the state due to the his country's keenness in cooperating with the UAE to establish permanent and solid basis to Abu Dhabi Dialogue for the benefits of both sides." He also hailed UAE's efforts for making the event a great success and passing over the presidency of Abu Dhabi Dialogue to Philippines until 2014.

He stressed that his country is proud of the establishment of the permanent headquarters of "Abu Dhabi Dialogue" in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi.

"We strive with our friends in the Gulf States to find better job opportunities and stable living conditions of the Philippine labor to improve our economic condition", the president concluded.

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