MANILA, (PNA) — US President Barack Obama will visit the Philippines in his four-country ASEAN tour from October 6 to 12, Malacanang said Saturday.
“Upon the invitation of His Excellency President Benigno S. Aquino III, President Barack Obama of the United States will be traveling to the Philippines on October 11-12,” Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a statement.
“President Obama will meet President Aquino to discuss ways to further strengthen the enduring Philippines-U.S. alliance, including the expansion of our security, economic, and people-to-people ties.”
Lacierda’s message confirmed a White House statement released on Friday about Obama’s trip to Asia.
The White House said the US President will travel to Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines from October 6 to 12 as part of his ongoing commitment to increase US political, economic and security engagement with the Asia Pacific.
In Indonesia, Obama will attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders meeting. APEC is the region’s leading forum for trade and investment integration.
He will then travel to Brunei for the US-ASEAN Summit and the East Asia Summit and to meet with the Sultan of Brunei.
After Brunei, the US leader will proceed to Malaysia to meet with Prime Minister Najib.
Obama will highlight the US’s growing bilateral ties with Malaysia, and also deliver the keynote address to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit.
The last leg of Obama’s Asian visit will be the Philippines, the fifth Asian treaty ally he has visited during his presidency.
He will meet with President Aquino to reaffirm the strong economic, people-to-people, and security links between the two countries, the White House said.