President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today lauded Asian political leaders attending the Third International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP3) here for their efforts in helping deepen cooperation and enhancing the economic welfare of their peoples.

Hosted by the Communist Party of China (CPC), ICAPP’s three-day conference here is its third in a row following its Bangkok edition last year and its Manila debut in 2002.

ICAPP was founded in 2002 by House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr., who remains its chairman, and a few other Asian parliamentarians.

Three hundred fifty delegates from more than 80 political parties in 35 countries in Asia are attending the conference currently underway at the Beijing Hotel here. Their number is matched only by some 350 foreign media representatives covering the event.

The President and Speaker de Venecia, president of Lakas-CMD, head the Filipino contingent to the conference. The group also includes Senators Edgardo Angara of Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), Joker Arroyo of the People’s Democratic Coalition and Ralph Recto of the Liberal Party.

The President spoke next to China Vice President Zeng Qinghong, honorary chairman of the conference organizing committee, who delivered the welcome and keynote address. She was followed by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Only the President spoke on behalf of the Philippines in the event opening rites in accordance with the principle of one speaker per country only, even as de Venecia was seated at the presidential table as ICAPP chairman.

Mrs. Arroyo urged the other Asian political leaders to give way and stress to party programs and consultations with the people, and bring governance and diplomacy into the realm of "party to party, state to state and people to people."

The President told her audience of the Philippine political experience where former military rightists and communists rebels are now actively participating in her country’s mainstream political exercise.

She was obviously referring to former Army Col. Gregorio Honasan who just completed his Senate term last June, and leftist Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo, among others.

"Politics indeed is the art of the possible," she noted.

The Chief Executive lauded ICAPP which, she pointed out, "neither acknowledges ideological lines nor seek alignments" and instead respects independence, complete equality, mutual respect and non-interference in internal politics.

Adverting to the conference’s development theme, the President said "prosperity and peace, and mutual respect of each other’s beliefs, is what development is all about."

China, she said, is now a showcase of the enlightened approach to market economy and the "emerging economic center of Asia and the world" and noted its conscious role as good and friendly neighbor to adjacent countries.

The President theme in her address perfectly complimented China Vice President Zeng Qinghong’s keynote message that the time has now come to end wars and conflicts and for nations to invest in regional cooperation and promote peace and prosperity.