PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. met on Thursday, September 22, 2022 (New York Time), with United States (US) President Joe Biden in the sidelines of the 77th session of the United National General Assembly (UNGA).
Biden said despite “some rocky times” in the past, the strong relationship between the US and the Philippines continues due to its “very deep roots.”
“For decades, our alliance has strengthened both of us I believe and one of the things we want to talk about today is how we continue to strengthen it and work together on the things that have the greatest concern to you,” he said.
“I’m interested to know what’s on your mind and how we can continue to strengthen this relationship,” he added.
Among the topics Biden said he was looking forward to discussing with Marcos were the opportunities for a wide range of issues, including Covid-19 recovery, energy security, renewable energy, the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea), disputes in critical global throughway and human rights.
“I was impressed with the work you did on windmills and a whole range of other things. You and I both think that’s the future we can do a lot — we can do a lot together. I’m desperately interested in making sure we do,” the American President said.
Biden also raised issues concerning the conflict in Ukraine due to Russian invasion, which badly impacts the energy and food prices across the world.
For his part, Marcos expressed commitment to improving ties with its longstanding “partner, ally and friend,” the US.
He also expressed hope that the two countries can further strengthen their bid to maintain peace despite all the complexities that have arisen in the past few months.
“So we have very much to discuss in terms of redefining I suppose in many ways. But the role of the United States in maintaining the peace in our region is something that is much appreciated by all the countries in the region and the Philippines especially,” Marcos said.
“And I hope that we will be able to discuss further the roles that our two countries will play together and individually as we continue down that road,” he added.
The Philippine President also expressed gratitude to the US for its provision of almost 36 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines to the country.
Meanwhile, Marcos also met for the first time Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida where they discussed the developments in Philippines-Japan bilateral relations.
The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen cooperation in tackling challenges and opportunities under the current regional security and economic landscape, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said.
Marcos said the Philippines and Japan “have fostered one of the closest partnerships in the region.”
The Philippines-Japan Strategic Partnership, spanning 11 years, has witnessed tremendous growth and deepened cooperation in addressing the two countries’ security and defense priorities, particularly in maritime security, maritime domain awareness, maritime law enforcement capacities, and peace in Mindanao.
Angeles said Kishida reiterated his country’s commitment to supporting the Philippines’ economic development to become an upper-middle-income country.
“The two leaders expressed confidence that bilateral cooperation in the next years will lead to the further realization of the two countries’ common aspiration for regional peace and stability and a better life for their peoples,” she said.
Marcos also discussed, during the sidelines of UNGA, with former United Kingdom prime minister Tony Blair, the initiatives to achieve lasting peace and sustainable development.
“We tackled the optimistic peace process in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (Barmm) and explored concrete ways to address other priority issues in the global economy such as food security, climate action, and trade,” Marcos said in a Facebook post.
Blair serves as the current executive chairman of the Tony Blair Institute For Global Change, a non-profit organization that seeks to support political leaders and governments to build open, inclusive and prosperous societies in a globalized world. (SunStar Philippines)