President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo received today the letters of credentials of the newly designated ambassadors of Korea and Finland to the Philippines as she bade goodbye to the outgoing French ambassador.

The President received incoming South Korean Ambassador Choi Joong-Kyung and Finland Ambassador Heikki Hannikainen at the Malacanang's Rizal Hall. Korean Ambassador Choi Joong-Kyung, in his brief remarks, compared South Korea's courageous struggle for freedom and democracy with that of the Philippines. "Allow me to reiterate my government's and my people's desire to usher in a new chapter in the Philippine-Korea relations. Maraming salamat po at mabuhay kayong lahat!" the new Korean envoy told the President. Joong-Kyung was South Korea's first vice finance minister prior to his appointment as Korean ambassador to the Philippines. For his part, Finnish Ambassador Heikki Hannikainen thanked the President for a great opportunity to serve the Filipino people and hoped that more Finnish investments will pour in to the country. Ambassador Hannikainen was Finland's Counsellor for Foreign Affairs prior to his Philippine assignment. Hannikainen had earlier served as consul general of the Finnish Mission in Shanghai, and worked for the Finnish embassies in Paris, Copenhagen, Rome, Brazil and Beograd. The President warmly welcomed the two new envoys and looked forward to further strengthen the Philippines' harmonious economic and diplomatic relations with Korea and Finland. "I accept your letters of credentials, and I look forward to a new chapter of our country's economic and diplomatic relations, and I hope that you will enjoy your stay in our country," she told the new envoys. In a separate farewell call, the President thanked outgoing French Ambassador Gerard Chesnel for his utmost dedication in serving the Filipino people during his tour of duty to the Philippines. "So sorry to see you go but I look forward and hope for a good year in your next endeavor," she told Chesnel. Ambassador Gerard Chesnel was appointed French ambassador to Manila in 2005.