Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo on Sunday said that the Philippines welcomes the United States’ continuing commitment to partnership in promoting peace, prosperity, and international law-based order in Southeast Asia.
Manalo said that he appreciates the US commitment to the Philippines as an equal and sovereign partner.
Manalo made the statement after speaking with his counterpart US Secretary of State Antony Blinken last week.
“Spoke with @SecBlinken. Appreciate US commitment to alliance and to PH as equal and sovereign partner in promoting peace, prosperity & international law-based order in the region,” Manila wrote on his Twitter.
“@SecBlinken and I agreed to continue working together on building resilient supply chains, addressing the climate crisis, and transitioning to clean energy,” he said.
Earlier, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants more economic activities between the Philippines and the US under his administration.
“The President told me that he really would like to see more economic activities between the United States and the Philippines,” Romualdez said.
“I think we are already going along that path right now. We’ve had quite a number of economic forums in the past, we’re going to have more of that,” the Filipino envoy added.
Romualdez said he also had a discussion with Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno about the matter, especially on acquiring more investments from the US.
US President Joe Biden has invited President Marcos to visit Washington.
Earlier, Romualdez also said President Marcos Jr. is looking to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September, where he may deliver a speech.
A side meeting with Biden is possible, but Romualdez said he prefers a separate inaugural bilateral summit between Marcos and Biden within the year in Washington, DC.