RIYADH: Chairman of the Shoura Council Dr. Abdullah Al-Asheikh received at the council’s headquarters in Riyadh on Tuesday Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.  Al-Asheikh stressed the importance of exchange visits that bolster bilateral ties.  He gave an overview of the Shoura Council operating mechanism and specialized committees, and reviewed Saudi Arabia-Philippines relations, notably parliamentary relations and ways to strengthen the work of the Philippine-Saudi Arabian Inter-parliamentary Friendship Association. Macapagal-Arroyo praised the Kingdom’s positions under the leadership of King Salman and its efforts to maintain security in the region and promote stability in the Middle East. She noted that her country aspires to support the Kingdom in peacebuilding in the Mindanao region with the aim of achieving development and stability. She said that Saudi Arabia-Philippines relations were strong on the level of government and the people, and expressed her appreciation for Al-Asheikh’s invitation to visit the Kingdom to bolster bilateral ties to open up opportunities to cooperate through the Philippine-Saudi Arabian Inter-parliamentary Friendship Association.  Macapagal-Arroyo confirmed that her meeting with Al-Asheikh revolved around the most important cause: The adoption of an autonomy law for the Muslims of Mindanao, and she looked forward to the Kingdom’s support to make this convention work, thereby enhancing security and stability in the region.