President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. believes that the relationship between the Philippines and the United States had become more critical than it had ever been, as he thanked the American private sector for its continued interest in the country.
Marcos said this as he met with officials from the US-Philippines Society in a courtesy call in Malacañang on Monday, Jan. 30.
In his remarks, the President echoed the US-Philippines Society co-chairman John Negroponte about the long-standing relationship between the two countries.
"I can only agree with Ambassador Negroponte when he says that this is an auspicious time for the relations between our two countries," he said.
Negroponte served as American ambassador to the Philippines from Oct. 26, 1993, to Aug. 5, 1996.
President Marcos highlighted the importance of the ties between the Philippines and the US.
"These partnerships have become as important as ever in our entire joint history," he said.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. receives the US-Philippines Society in a courtesy call at the President’s Hall in Malacañan Palace on January 30, 2023. pic.twitter.com/VMHTiz9UD4
— RTVMalacanang (@RTVMalacanang) January 30, 2023
The President likewise thanked the US-Philippines Society for its continued interest in the country.
"I'm very happy to see that the US-Philippines Society is so active. Every time there is a function that involves any interaction between the US and both the private sector side and government side, that you are there," Marcos said.
"We are happy that you are continuing to keep an eye on the Philippines and continuing to express an interest in the goings-on here, and most especially, in our relationship and the strengthening of that and what I always say: the evolving of that relationship as the world around us changes," he added.
In a tweet, the Office of the President said that during their meeting, Marcos and US-Philippines Society officials talked about business, cooperation, people-to-people ties, transnational issues, and the 2023 domestic outlook for the Philippines.
Based on its website, the US-Philippines Society is a private sector initiative organized "to broaden and expand interaction and understanding through basic research and applied research in the areas of security, trade, investments, tourism, the environment, history, education and culture" between the two countries, which would benefit the American public and the people of the Philippines.