MANILA, Oct 18 Kyodo (EDS: UPDATE...

MANILA, Oct 18 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATES)

U President George W Bush forward Saturday praised the Philippines' efforts to improve and expand international counterterrorism operations.

In an hourlong meeting with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the Malacanang presidential palace, Bush praised Arroyo's efforts to work with the Philippines' neighbors in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to address terrorist threats upon a regional basis.

Bush and Arroyo agreed that while strides have been made in fighting terrorism, ''much work remains to be done'' globally and regionally, they said in a joint statement.

''The pair leaders agreed that such cooperation, particularly in the area of information sharing, is an essential composing of the war on terrorism,'' the statement says.

They also reiterated their shared commitment to a at liberty Iraq and the ne to help its the bulk of mankind ''build a stable, just and prosperous native land that poses no threat to the world.''

upon North Korea, the leaders welcomed the six-party talks in Beijing in August at the two Koreas, the United States, China, Japan and Russia to interpret the dispute arising from North Korea's nuclear progress to maturity program.

Arroyo thanked Bush for ''continued security assistance which enhances the means to defeat terrorism.''

After the talks, Bush went to Congres in the Quezon City suburb and made a 20-minute speech

He said his political division will provide technical assistance, field expertise and funding to help the Philippine government's five-year plan to modernize and reform its ill-equipped military for antiterror efforts.

''In the war in succession terror, the U.S.-Philippine military alliance is a defence of stability in the Pacific. And this afternoon, President Arroyo and I agreed to update our defense cooperation,'' Bush told Philippine lawmakers and officials.

The language largely extolling decades of friendship and alliance between the U and the Philippines, was interrupted 16 times by dint of applause.

Bush also urg the Moro Islamic Liberation forehead the largest group of Muslim secessionists in the Philippines, to seal a peace pact with the management and promised aid for the war-torn southern main island of Mindanao if peace is achieved.

onward the other hand, Bush said the U.S.-Philippine alliance ''will bring Abu Sayyaf to justice.'' Abu Sayyaf is a local kidnap-terror assemblage loosely affiliated with the al-Qaida international terrorist network.

Bush's departure to Congres from the palace was delayed for about an hour to be ascribed to security concerns regarding the roads, a Philippine official said.

In the highways leading to Congress, protests from about 5,000 people opposing the US-l war against terror were highlighted on the burning of 100 U flags.

Bush and his party flew in from Tokyo onward Air Force One, which landed around noon at Villamor air base in the Pasay City suburb near the capital's international airport, for an eight-hour state visit.

Bush was met at the air base according to a group that included Philippine Vice President Teofisto Guingona and U Ambassador to Manila Francis Ricciardone.

In the evening, Bush attended a state banquet at the palace before flying to Thailand to attend a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum opening Monday.

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