Rubio to deepen partnership with PH, ASEAN in 5-day Manila trip

MANILA – The United States Department of State on Saturday confirmed that Secretary Marco Rubio will travel to Manila on July 19 to 23 to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meetings.

In a statement, the State Department said the US top diplomat will use the trip to both “demonstrate the tangible results of US-ASEAN partnership and to deepen the US’ comprehensive partnership with the Philippines.”

“The Secretary’s visit advances a clear U.S. priority: a free and open Indo-Pacific that delivers safety, security, and prosperity for the region and for the American people,” it said.

Rubio will attend the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference, the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and the ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

He will also meet with senior government officials from Indo-Pacific countries, the State Department said.

Rubio is among the foreign ministers traveling to the Philippines for the ministerial meetings the Philippines is hosting as this year’s ASEAN chair. — Joyce Ann L. Rocamora (PNA)