QUEZON CITY (PIA)-- During President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and US President Joseph Biden’s bilateral meeting in Washington on Monday, the two leaders renewed their commitment to elevate Manila and Washington’s alliance.
The two leaders resolved to draw on the strength of their partnership to promote enduring economic growth and prosperity in the United States, the Philippines, and the broader Indo-Pacific region.
To that end, President Biden will dispatch a Presidential Trade and Investment Mission to the Philippines on his behalf, to enhance U.S. companies’ investment in the Philippines’ innovation economy, its clean energy transition and critical minerals sector, and the food security of its people.
Further, the two countries will co-host the 2024 Indo-Pacific Business Forum in Manila, which will further establish the Philippines as a key hub for regional supply chains and high-quality investment.
Additionally, the two countries will pursue engagements with the business and social sectors regarding opportunities to enhance bilateral economic engagement. This engagement will be worker-centered, sustainability-driven, fair, and transparent, focusing on sectors in which it is critical to developing resilient supply chains and in which significant and meaningful economic value-added and employment can be generated in the United States and the Philippines.
On the issue of defense and security, President Marcos took note of the United States’ assistance in maintaining peace and how they contributed to the stability and development of the Asia-Pacific region.
The Philippine President believes it is “only natural” for the Philippines to “look to its sole treaty partner in the world, to strengthen and to redefine the relationship that we have and the roles that we play in the face of these… tensions that we see now around the South China Sea and the Asia-Pacific and Indo-Pacific region.”
He also mentioned the need to “find ways to strengthen our alliances and partnership in the face of the new economy that we are facing post-pandemic.”
In response, President Biden assured they remain “ironclad in their commitment to the defense of the Philippines, including the South China Sea.” He also said they will continue supporting the Philippine military modernization.
“Our countries not only share strong partnership. We share a deep friendship, one that has been enriched by millions of Filipino-Americans and communities all across the United States,” President Biden said.
The meeting in the Oval Office comprised of talks about security, education, and other issues.
Meanwhile, in an expanded bilateral meeting in the White House, Philippine Cabinet officials and their US counterparts also met with Biden and Marcos. Attendees in this bilateral meeting include National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano; Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.; Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Antonia Yulo Loyzaga; Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual; Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan John Uy; Justice Secretary Jesus Crisoin Remulla; Migrant Workers Department Secretary Maria Susana “Toots” Ople and Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo.
During his stay in Washington, Marcos is also scheduled to visit Pentagon and meet with Cabinet executives and business leaders.
The two Presidents are set to meet again in November for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week.
To read the joint statement of the two leaders, you may visit pco.gov.ph. (ARB, PIA-CPSD)
