President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (left) and US President Joe Biden
NEW JERSEY, United States — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Sunday said he is hoping to meet with his American counterpart Joe Biden during his working visit to the United States.
In his speech addressing the Filipino community at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Marcos said the Philippine government has asked several heads of state who will attend the United Nations 77th General Assembly for their time for bilateral or multilateral meetings.
“Pagkatapos ng mga malalaking speech ay nagkikita-kita, mag-uusap-usap kami na bilateral, multilateral, kung ano pa mga iba’t ibang meeting kaya’t ‘yun ay nakapaimportante rin kaya’t ginawa namin na nakapagplano kami at humingi kami ng panahon dito sa mga napunta rito para sa General Assembly. Sabi ko pagkakataon na natin at hindi natin sila mapupuntahan sa kanilang bansa, dito na natin silang kakausapin,” he said.
(After the speeches, world leaders meet and hold bilateral or multilateral meetings and all other kinds of meetings and that is what’s the most important so that’s why we planned and asked leaders of their time. I said this is our opportunity to meet with them since we can no longer go to their countries.)
“I am hoping to be able to meet President Joseph Biden and other world leaders on the sides of the UN General Assembly,” the President added.
Aside from meeting with heads of state, Marcos said he will also meet with US business leaders with the hopes of attracting investors in the Philippines.
“Our bilateral alliance with the United States is possibly as important policy as there is in the Philippines. Our relations with the United States remains strong and I believe we will make them stronger in the coming years,” he said.
Marcos arrived in the US on Sunday and started his six-day working visit by meeting with the Filipino community in the country.
This is his third foreign trip since assuming the presidency, holding his inaugural state visits in Indonesia and Singapore earlier in the month.
He cited the need to create partnerships with other countries to help rise from the current global crisis.
“I am here to make sure na ipapaliwanag natin kung nasaan na ang Pilipinas at kung ano ang mga maaaring gawin dahil sa ating palagay sa pagdating, paglabas natin ng pandemya at sinasabi na patapos na ay kailangan nating ayusin ang ating ekonomiya,” the President said.
(I am here to explain where the Philippines currently is and what we can do when it comes to the pandemic since the economy still needs fixing.)
“Kaya po ay kailangan natin makipag-partner at makipag-usap sa lahat ng iba’t ibang bansa ng sa ganoon ay makapagtulungan tayo na makalabas, makaahon dito sa sitwasyon na ating rinaranasan ngayon,” Marcos added.
(That’s why we need to create partnerships and talk with other countries so that we can help each other rise from our current situation.)
Marcos will be in the United States for six days. He is set to speak before the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Sept. 20. He will be the second speaker in the afternoon session of the UN high-level debate.
Meanwhile, Biden will be the second speaker in the morning session.