President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will travel again to the United States by the end of April for a second bilateral talk with US President Joe Biden, the US Embassy in Manila and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced on Friday.
Marcos will be in Washington, D.C. from April 30 to May 4 on an official visit aimed at reaffirming the "historical, deep and expensansive" relationship between the two countries, the DFA said.
His activities will begin on May 1 with a bilateral talk with Biden—his second one after New York which was held at the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. It will be followed by expanded meetings with key US Cabinet officials.
Biden will host Marcos to reaffirm the US ironclad commitment to the defense of the Philippines, according to the White House.
The meeting at the highest level between the two countries came as the Philippines sought military backing from the Western giant against a backdrop of China's aggression in the Indo-Pacific and its incursion into the West Philippine Sea.
The two leaders will also discuss efforts to strengthen the longstanding US-Philippines alliance, the White House added.
Manila said Marcos' meeting with Biden "will substantively progress efforts to further deepen relations and political ties, to bring about lasting socio-economic partnerships, as well as to enhance defense and security cooperation."
The President, according to DFA, is expected to bring up with Biden the Philippines interest in the following areas: socio-economic and development, agriculture, energy, climate change, digital transformation and technology, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, supply chains and infrastructure.
Marcos and Biden will review opportunities in those areas as well as discuss regional matters and coordinate efforts to uphold international law and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, the embassy added.
In September, Marcos first visited the US after assuming the presidency.
There, he also sat down with Biden, an event he saw as very significant.
Since then, there have been several high level talks between the two countries aimed at strengthening not only their economic ties but also military, which has angered China.
The Philippines stressed the importance of the visit as it "will reaffirm the bonds of friendship that give definition and significance to the many facets of the bilateral relationship, underpinned by the close affinity shared by Filipinos and Americans alike for many years."
"The trip will highlight the steadfast commitment by both sides to be reliable and resilient allies and partners in times of crisis and prosperity, amid a challenging global and regional environment," the DFA added.