Bongbong Marcos, new US envoy discuss economy, food security

From the Twitter account of United States Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson.

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and new United States Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson discussed Friday cooperation between the two countries in the economic and food security sector.

Carlson, who presented her credentials to Marcos, expressed goals to strengthen further the relationship between the Philippines and the United States.

“I am deeply honored to work with the Philippine government led by President Marcos and our #FriendsPartnersAlliesacross this great country to further strengthen U.S.-Philippine ties,” Carlson said in a tweet.

I am deeply honored to work with the Philippine government led by President Marcos and our #FriendsPartnersAllies across this great country to further strengthen U.S.-Philippine ties. pic.twitter.com/KPBo9lyHD1

— Ambassador MaryKay L. Carlson (@USAmbPH) July 22, 2022

The meeting between Marcos and Carlson lasted for 45 minutes, according to Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez, who was also present.

Romualdez said during the meeting, Marcos expressed his appreciation to the United States for helping the Philippines with vaccines in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The President expressed his appreciation to the United States in helping the Philippines with the vaccines and that our long historical ties will take us to the future of our strong relationship,” Romualdez said in a text message.

“PBBM (President Bongbong Marcos) said we should have more trade not aid from the US,” he added.

Meanwhile, Romualdez said Carlson expressed readiness to work with the Philippine government.

“Ambassador Carlson told the president that the United States is ready to work with his government on all areas of cooperation like climate change, pandemic response and of course food security and the economy,” Romualdez said.

For his part, Romualdez thanked Carlson for her kind words in relation to him being selected to continue as Philippine envoy to the US.

New US envoy

In a statement released by the US Embassy in the Philippines, Carlson said she is “thrilled to be in the Philippines and honored to represent the United States in this important relationship.”

“With the Philippines, our oldest treaty ally in Asia, we have a long history of shared sacrifice and incredibly close people-to-people ties,” Carlson said.

“I look forward to working with the new government and our partners to upgrade and modernize our alliance to face new challenges, expand bilateral trade and investment, and promote democratic freedoms and good governance,” she added.

Carlson succeeded Ambassador Sung Kim, who led the U.S. Mission from 2016 to 2020.

Prior to arriving in Manila, Carlson was Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Buenos Aires in Argentina.

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JPV