QUEZON CITY (PIA) -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will travel to Washington D.C. from April 30 to May 4 on an official visit to reaffirm the special relationship between the Philippines and the United States.
The Philippines recognizes the United States as major bilateral trade and official development assistance partner. The two countries maintain a shared commitment to continually evolve for a dynamic economic relation.
The Chief Executive is expected to meet with US President Joseph “Joe” Biden and will have an expanded meeting with key Cabinet officials. The two highest officials are expected to discuss matters on promoting socioeconomic agendas and harness partnerships in agriculture, energy, climate change, digital transformation and technology, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, supply chains, and infrastructure.
On the matters of security and defense, the Philippines will be counting on the United States to support its efforts in terms of enhancing maritime cooperation, upholding international law, freedom of navigation and overflight, and promoting of sustainable development of marine resources.
On the sideline of this state visit, President Marcos will also meet with major US companies and business organizations to promote the country as a trading partner and investment market.
Moreover, the President is also expected to deliver major policy speech in the Think Tank. He is also expected to meet the Filipino community during his US visit.
Immediately following the meeting with the US President, the Philippine delegation will be traveling to Labuan Bajo, Indonesia on May 10 to 11 to attend the 42nd ASEAN Summit.
The President will be conducting interface dialogues with other ASEAN member states leaders to exchange views on key regional issues and build consensus on matters of mutual interest and provide policy directions on ASEAN community building efforts.
The ASEAN leaders will hold interfaces with:
- ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (IPA)
- ASEAN Youth Representatives
- ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN BAC)
- High Level Task Force on the ASEAN Community Post-2025
President Marcos will also assert the demonstration of ASEAN centrality in the region amidst geopolitical rivalries. He will likewise be advancing the Philippine priorities in ASEAN through regional and multilateral cooperation in areas such as long-term food and energy security, efforts toward economic recovery, combatting transnational crimes, upgrading of technical and vocation education and training, adapting climate and disaster resilient technologies and transitioning to renewable and alternative energy technologies, and the protection of migrant workers.
ASEAN leaders are also expected to adopt a roadmap on East Timor’s full membership in ASEAN.
President Marcos will also will take part in the 15th Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asia Growth Area (BIMPEAGA) Summit which would be convened on the May 11.
The Chief Executive will discuss developments under BIMPEAGA Vision 2025 towards promoting economic development, strengthening connectivity and sustainable management of natural resources in the subregion.
This state visit and attendance to summits are expected to bring fruit to the country as the Marcos administration move towards economic recovery while strengthening foreign relations. (KSAA – PIA CPSD)
