President’s Hall, Malacañan Palace
August 6, 2022

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. talked with United States of America (USA) Secretary of State Antony John Blinken in a courtesy call at the President’s Hall in Malacañan Palace.

President Marcos Jr. and Secretary Blinken discussed bilateral efforts to strengthen the alliance between the two nations such as increased cooperation on energy, trade and investment, climate change, shared democratic values, people-to-people ties and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

U.S.A. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, Director Enoh Ebong (U.S. Trade Development and Agency), Director Salman Ahmed (Secretary of State’s Policy Planning Staff, U.S. Department of State), Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Kin Moy (East Asian and Pacific Affairs, U.S. Department of State), Mr. Thomas Sullivan (Deputy Chief of Staff to the U.S. Secretary of State), Spokesperson Ned Price and Mr. Brett Blackshaw (Embassy of the USA to the Philippines) joined Secretary Blinken in the courtesy call.

On the Philippine side, Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez, Philippine Ambassador to the USA Jose Manuel Romualdez, Presidential Management Staff (PMS) Secretary Maria Zenaida Angping, Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Secretary Antonio Lagdameo Jr., Presidential Adviser on Foreign Affairs and Chief of Presidential Protocol Secretary Adelio Angelito Cruz, and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) – Office of American Affairs Assistant Secretary Victor Chan-Gonzaga accompanied the Chief Executive.

This is Secretary Blinken’s first visit to the Philippines since assuming office in January 2021.

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