PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and US Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday hailed the “strong” and “enduring” ties between the Philippines and the United States amid global headwinds.
Harris, who paid a courtesy call to President Marcos in Malacañang, described the Philippines-United States relationship as a “long and enduring one.”
“The relationship between the Philippines and the United States is a long and enduring one. It is one relationship that is strong for so many reasons. It is the long-standing relationship in terms of the people-to-people ties,” Harris told the chief executive.
“The basis of our relationship is multifaceted. Our relationship is based on mutual commitment to the economic prosperity of the region and our respective nations,” she added.
Harris, the highest-ranking US official to visit Puerto Princesa City in Palawan province this week, also lauded the “thriving” Filipino community in the US in her meeting with President Marcos.
“In the United States, by last count, there are at least four million Filipino-Americans,” said Harris.
Marcos, for his part, said with the “upheavals that we are seeing,” the partnership between the Philippines and its long-standing ally “becomes even more important.”
“The situation is rapidly changing. We must evolve to be properly responsive to that situation. And so that is why it is very important that we continue to progress, that we continue to strengthen as we redefine those relationships,” Marcos pointed out.
“Your visit is a very strong symbol that these relationships remain strong, that these relationships remain important as indeed they do. The Filipino, I have said many times, I do not see a future for the Philippines that does not include the United States,” the President told Harris.
Harris arrived in the Philippines on Sunday, in what was the first visit in five years by a high-ranking US official since former President Donald Trump visited the country for the 2017 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit.
Harris was accompanied by her husband, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff.
Harris is slated to hold talks aimed at reinforcing the longtime security and economic relationship between Manila and Washington.
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