PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday said he expects his meeting with the United States and Japan to strengthen economic cooperation among the three nations as well as pursue efforts promoting peace and freedom of navigation and flight in the South China Sea.
The President left yesterday afternoon for the US to attend for the first trilateral summit with American President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Washington.
Marcos will also have a separate meeting with Biden, aimed at further advancing ties and strengthening the alliance with the US. He will also meet with American business executives to invite them to invest in the Philippines.
“It is a historic meeting with US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and it is aimed at advancing trilateral cooperation between our three countries, which have long enjoyed warm and friendly relations, and robust cooperation,” he said in his departure speech.
He said that during the summit, he intends to underscore the importance of enhancing economic cooperation, with a view of promoting economic resilience and security, with the two nations.
He said he will explore ways of advancing cooperation, especially in the areas of critical infrastructure, semiconductors, digitalization and cybersecurity, critical minerals, renewable energy, as well as defense and maritime cooperation.
“It is my intention also to exchange views with my US and Japanese counterparts on various regional security issues of mutual concern, while continuing to reiterate the importance of upholding the rule of law and preserving the rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific region,” he added.
The President, in an ambush interview in San Juan prior to his departure, had said that he expects the US, Japan, and the Philippines to cooperate “in terms of maintaining security and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.” He said details of the cooperation will still be discussed.
In his departure speech, he emphasized the summit’s main purpose is strengthening economic cooperation among the three countries.
He said security and defense will also be a part of their discussion, “but nonetheless, I think I can assure everyone that that is not the main intent of this trilateral agreement.”
“The main intent of this trilateral agreement is for us to be able to continue to flourish, to be able to help one another, and of course… to keep the peace in the South China Sea and the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea,” he added.
Marcos is expected to be back in Manila by April 14.
Speaker Martin Romualdez, who is part of the official delegation, said the summit aims to promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
He said focus on peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region “aligns with the Philippines’ aspirations for a secure and harmonious environment.”
“By strengthening our partnerships with like-minded nations, we can address security challenges effectively and promote peace and stability across the region,” he said.
The Speaker said the first-ever meeting of the three leaders also “signifies a pivotal step towards deepening economic ties among the three nations, enhancing peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, and bolstering cooperation in various areas of mutual interest.”
Vice President and concurrent Education Secretary Sara Duterte, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III will be the caretakers while the President is in the US.
Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil said Duterte will chair the caretaker committee with Bersamin and Estrella as her assistants. — With Wendell Vigilia
