LOC19:34
16:34 GMT
WASHINGTON, Nov 21 (KUNA) -- Vice President Kamala Harris met Monday in Manila with President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines discussed Monday expanding cooperation, which supports a free and open Indo-Pacific.
They reaffirmed the strength "of our bilateral relationship, noting our long history as friends, allies, and partners", the White House said in a statement.
The Vice President emphasized that the Biden-Harris Administration is committed to strengthening these ties, it added.
"The Vice President underscored the strength of our security and economic partnership with the Philippines and welcomed our expanding cooperation, which supports a free and open Indo-Pacific", it said.
Harrris and Marcos discussed a number of global issues, and the importance of standing up for international rules and norms, it made clear.
Harris reiterated the interests of the United States in peace and stability in the South China Sea and that the United States stands with our Philippine ally in upholding the rules-based international maritime order, unimpeded lawful commerce and respect of international law, including freedoms of navigation and overflight, it said.
She reaffirmed that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the Pacific would invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, it noted.
"The Vice President discussed our expanding Coast Guard partnership and maritime law enforcement cooperation, which supports the lives and livelihoods of the Filipino people," it said.
Harris condemned the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's destabilizing missile tests and Russia's brutal and illegal invasion of Ukraine.
She underscored that the United States is committed to working closely with the Philippines to strengthen our economic partnership and investment ties between our countries, according to the statement.
"The Vice President discussed expanding our shared efforts on food and energy security issues," it said.
Additionally, the Vice President and the President welcomed the initiation of negotiations on a "123" civil nuclear cooperation agreement to expand cooperation on zero-emission technology and nonproliferation priorities, it said.
They two sides discussed the urgency of the climate crisis, as well as the opportunities presented by accelerating the transition to clean energy and "welcomed our growing cooperation on climate action", it concluded. (end)
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