Biden talks of cooperation during phone call meet with Marcos, Ishiba

US President Joe Biden (Photo by Chris Kleponis / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., United States President Joe Biden, and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Monday met eye to eye on the importance of “continued coordination to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

In a readout released after the nation leaders’ trilateral phone call earlier the day, Biden said they discussed ways of advancing cooperation in the region.

Biden said they also talked about trilateral maritime security and economic cooperation and the People’s Republic of China’s “dangerous and unlawful behavior in the South China Sea.”

READ: Marcos, Biden, Ishiba pledge stronger trilateral ties in phone call

Meanwhile, in a statement, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said Marcos, Biden, and Ishiba vowed to strengthen their ties in various areas of cooperation.

“I am confident that our three countries will continue to work together closely to sustain the gains that we have made in enhancing and deepening our ties,” Marcos said in the phone call, as quoted in the statement.

During the phone call, Marcos highlighted the substantial progress in implementing bilateral and trilateral cooperation.

He cited achievements in economic growth and resilience, technology, climate cooperation, clean energy, and promoting peace and security, as outlined in the Trilateral Joint Vision Statement adopted in April.

Meanwhile, PCO said Ishiba stressed the importance of deepening their trilateral cooperation.

“Going forward, it is important to deepen trilateral cooperation in a variety of fields,” he said.