Aquino’s Washington trip seen to boost PH-US ties

President Barack Obama meets with President Benigno Aquino III on the sidelines of the Asean and East Asia summit in Nusa Dua, on the island of Bali, Indonesia. AP

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III aims to boost the country’s relations with the United States when he makes his working visit to Washington DC, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia said.

In a statement issued by the Philippine Embassy Wednesday, Cuisia said the meeting between Aquino and US President Barack Obama “will lay the groundwork for the future of the strategic partnership” between the two countries.

Aquino was expected to arrive at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) at the Andrews Air Force base on board Philippine Airlines Flight PR001 from London.

The meeting, scheduled on Friday, would be the fourth between the two leaders but the first to be held at the White House, Cuisia said in the statement.

Cuisia said the leaders would also talk about the two countries’ economic and people to people ties as well as the US shift to refocus on the Asia-Pacific.