Biden to host Marcos, Kishida in first trilateral summit

120321_APTOPIXbiden2 AP PHOTO President Joe Biden speaks about the COVID-19 pandemic during a prime-time address from the East Room of the White House, Thursday, March 11, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

MANILA, Philippines: US President Joe Biden will host President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on April 11 at the White House for the first trilateral US-Japan-Philippines leaders’ summit.

They are expected to advance a trilateral partnership built on deep historical ties of friendship, robust and growing economic relations, a proud and resolute commitment to shared democratic values, and a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, the White House said on Monday (Tuesday in Manila).

Biden, Kishida and Marcos will also “reaffirm the ironclad alliances between the United States and the Philippines, and the United States and Japan,” said US Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in a statement shared by the US Embassy in the Philippines.

“At the summit, the three leaders will discuss trilateral cooperation to promote inclusive economic growth and emerging technologies, advance clean energy supply chains and climate cooperation, and further peace and security in the Indo-Pacific and around the world,” Jean-Pierre said.

Biden will host Marcos for a meeting at the White House on April 11 to “review the historic momentum” in US-Philippines relations and discuss efforts to expand cooperation on economic security, clean energy, people-to-people ties, and human rights and democracy.

Biden will “reaffirm the ironclad alliance between the United States and the Philippines and emphasize US commitment to upholding international law and promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Jean-Pierre added.