The Philippines is eager to sustain its bilateral relations with the United States, ensuring that their ties remain relevant and responsive to current and emerging challenges.

Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro made the statement in her speech during the celebration of the 249th anniversary of US Independence held on July 3.

Lazaro stressed that the last three years have opened new avenues for deeper and strategic collaboration between the two countries in political areas, security and defense sectors, trade, investments, and development.

“For our alliance to be strong politically, it must also be strong economically, underpinned by our shared commitment to the peace, prosperity and stability of the Indo-Pacific region,” Lazaro said.

“We are eager to sustain the momentum in our bilateral relations,” she added.

The DFA chief said the “flurry of activities” between the two countries are a testament to the strength and depth of their relations.

“Sustaining this momentum will not only reinforce the strength of our alliance and the maturity of our institutional linkages, but also ensure that our partnership remains relevant and responsive to current and emerging challenges,” Lazaro said.

She cited the various partnership the Philippines and the US have undertaken in several areas of cooperation. One of these is the conduct of Balikatan exercises and maritime cooperative activities which have resulted in increased participation from partner nations and observers.

The two countries have been engaging in several bilateral dialogues, strengthening cooperation in the maritime domain, science and technology, democracy, trade and investment, cyber-digital policy, energy, aviation and outer space, she added.

The DFA secretary further said that the Philippines continue to welcome business missions from the US, in recognition of the promising economic opportunities in the Philippines.

She also cited the Luzon Economic Corridor, which was initiated by the historic trilateral partnership between the Philippines, US and Japan, noting that “it is a success story in how a big, beautiful deal is poised to bring mutually-beneficial economic opportunities and prosperity across the region.”

Lazaro also mentioned that just last week, the US Trade and Development Agency and the Philippines’ Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced technical assistance funding for the construction of the Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas Railway, which is designed to link three major ports in Luzon and decongest traffic at the Port of Manila.

Lazaro also thanked the United States for its active engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) across all three community pillars, as a Comprehensive Strategic Partner.

“As the Philippines assumes the chairship of ASEAN next year, we look forward to further deepening ASEAN’s engagement with the U.S. on maritime cooperation, transnational crime, counter-terrorism, digital economy, MSME development, and youth and people-to-people exchanges,” she said.

To conclude her speech, she recognized the valuable contribution of the four million-strong Filipino-American community to the US economy and society, which, she said, enhances their people-to-people ties and ensures that the Philippine-US alliance remains vibrant and dynamic.