US Secretary of State Blinken arrives in PH for official visit

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in the Philippines on Friday, August 5, 2022, for an official visit. Photo courtesy of DFA

MANILA, Philippines — United States (US) Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in the Philippines on Friday night, his first official visit to the country since assuming office last year.

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Chief of Protocol Fred Santos and Office of American Affairs Assistant Secretary JV Chan-Gonzaga welcomed Blinken at the Villamor Airbase.

Blinken is scheduled to meet with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo on Saturday, August 6.

The officials are anticipated to discuss the further strengthening of the US-Philippines relations.

The DFA earlier said that among the issues that will be tackled by Blinken and Marcos Jr. are cooperation in the economic sphere, addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, and the climate crisis.

Before going to the Philippines, Blinken first visited Cambodia. He is expected to proceed to South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda after Manila.

READ: US Secretary of State Blinken to travel to southeast Asia, Africa next week

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in the Philippines on Friday, August 5, 2022, for an official visit. Photo courtesy of DFA

KGA