Chengdu News

Manila - Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo left on Saturday for a four-day visit to Rome and Portugal.

In Rome, Arroyo will attend the canonization of the Blessed Marie Eugenie, the founder of the Religious of the Assumption, and have an audience with Pope Benedict XVI.

From Rome, Arroyo will fly to Lisbon to meet with Portugal President Anibal Calvo to enhance economic and bilateral ties between the two countries.

On the way home, Arroyo also scheduled a brief stop over in China for meetings in Chengdu and Chongqing.

She is expected to return to Manila on June 7 in time to attend the centennial celebrations of the House of Representatives which is dominated by her political allies.

Arroyo had just returned to Manila on Friday from a five-day visit to Australia and New Zealand.