President Aquino welcomes US Senator Marco Rubio in Malacanang

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 22): President Aquino welcomes US Senator Marco Rubio in Malacanang

President Benigno S. Aquino III met with US Senator Marco Rubio in Malacanang on Wednesday to discuss financial and security issues.

Rubio, who arrived on Tuesday, paid a courtesy call on the President at the Music Room of Malacanang.

In a statement, Rubio underscored the importance of Asia to the economic and security well-being of America and said he hoped that the “rhetoric” about the increased presence in the region “does not come at the expense of enduring alliances and challenges in other parts of the world.”

Joining the Senator were US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Bradley, Consul for Foreign and International Security Affairs Jamie Fly and the Senator’s Chief of Staff, Cesar Conda.

“For the Philippines, there are two main issues that we’ll talk about, one is the South China Sea issue,” Conda said.

“We want to learn more about China’s activities there and what the Philippines is doing and how the United States can help,” he said.

Conda said Rubio is also set to discuss economic issues with Aquino to strengthen the existing close trading relationship between the two allies.

Joining the President in welcoming Senator Rubio were Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario, Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras and Rosalita Prospero of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=608164