Malacañang
30 January 2013

President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomed the visiting U.S. Congressional Delegation (CODEL) led by Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Congressman Edward Royce in Malacañang.

Representative Royce of California was joined by Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr., Rep. Eliot Engel (New York), Rep. Vernon Buchanan (Florida), Rep. Thomas Anthony ‘Tom’ Marino (Pennsylvania) and Rep. Matthew James ‘Matt’ Salmon (Arizona).

High on the agenda of the call are discussions on PH-US relations, defense and trade and investment cooperation, as well as regional development and security issues.

Present during the call on the Philippine side were Ambassador Jose Cuisia Jr., Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo.

The CODEL is in the country from January 28-30 to meet with Philippine officials and the business community. The group has gone to Seoul and Taiwan before visiting Manila and will proceed to Beijing after.

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