WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will meet with Philippine President Benigno Aquino III on June 8 at the White House as the United States steps up support to the ally locked in disputes with China.
The White House said on Friday Obama looks forward to discussing the strategic, economic and "people to people" ties between the US and the Philippines and their cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.
Obama has said the US needs to deepen its engagement in the fast-growing Asia Pacific region, calling it critical to the nation's security and economic prosperity. The Philippines is a longtime ally of the United States.
The talks are the latest sign of a growing alliance after a rare joint visit to Washington by the Philippine foreign and defense ministers at the end of April.
"The Philippines is a long-standing friend and ally of the United States, and the president looks forward to discussing with President Aquino the close strategic, economic and people to people ties between our two countries, and our cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region," a White House statement said.
"The two leaders will also discuss ways to deepen bilateral cooperation."
The Obama administration has put a renewed focus on Southeast Asia, stepping up ties to the economically dynamic region where several countries are embroiled in territorial disputes with a growing China.
The Philippines has had particularly rocky relations with China. The two countries have both been posting non-military ships in disputed Scarborough Shoal to exert their claims.
The United States has been helping to upgrade the notoriously antiquated Philippine military and Aquino has agreed to let a greater number of US troops rotate through the country.
But both Aquino and the Obama administration have said that they do not plan a permanent military presence in the Philippines, which would be politically sensitive in the former US colony.
Malacañang on Saturday confirmed President Aquino’s visit to Washington.
"We are confirming the announcement of the US government that President Obama will be receiving President Aquino in June," Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said on government radio dzRB.
Valte said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will conduct a briefing on the President's itinerary for his foreign trips this week.
The trip to the White House will follow Aquino's state visit to the United Kingdom from June 4 to 6.
He will be in Washington D.C. until June 10 before making a short visit to Los Angeles on his way home.
Vice President Jejomar C. Binay will also be in Washington D.C. early June to speak before the 5th Global Housing Finance Conference at the World Bank Headquarters.
Binay is expected to meet with World Bank Executive Director Rogerio Studart.
The Vice President is expected back in the Philippines to prepare for his visit to London. (JC Bello Ruiz, AP and AFP)
source: mb.com.ph
