President Arroyo is set to leave for Cairo on May 1 for a special working visit in Egypt and from there to Syria.

“The President's visit there shows the importance she attaches to peace and development in Southern Philippines, particularly in Mindanao,” Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said in a statement.

Mrs. Arroyo, who will be the first Philippine president to visit Egypt in 30 years, will hold a one-on-one meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on May 2, said the statement.

She reportedly will also meet with the Filipino community in Egypt, as well as with Egyptian businessmen on possible investments in the Philippines.

From Cairo, the Chief Executive will continue her “mission of peace and inter-faith dialogue” when she flies to Damascus, Syria for a state visit.

She is expected to sign partnership agreements and hold bilateral meetings with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The statement said that Mrs. Arroyo will also address the People's Assembly in Syria, meet with the Syrian business community, and attend a state dinner tendered by Syria's president.

The statement said President Arroyo will also visit one of the biggest container terminals in the Middle East that is operated by the International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Remonde cited that Egypt and Syria are two of the most influential countries in the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and the Arab League.

He also noted that the headquarters and leadership of the OIC are in the aforementioned countries.

Meanwhile, President Arroyo is expected to return to the Philippines on May 5.