Aquino to meet Obama anew

Wednesday, November 9, 2011
PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III and United States President Barack Obama will meet for the second time on November 18 during the 19th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit and Related Meetings in Indonesia to discuss the issue of maritime security, among others.
In a statement Wednesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that Obama requested the meeting, which will fall on the heels of the visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to the country.
“These high level engagements between the two countries underscore their strong alliance and strategic partnership,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said.
Clinton will conduct a one-day visit to the Philippines to mark the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between the two countries.
The MDT, which was signed on August 30, 1951, formally forged the mutual commitment between the Philippines and the United States to come to each other’s defense against external armed attack.
The two heads of states will discuss issues of common interest such as maritime security, non-proliferation, disaster mitigation, food security and education, among other issues.
They will also exchange views and perspectives on key regional developments.
This is the second meeting between the two Presidents.
The first one was held after the 2nd Asean-US Leaders’ Meeting in New York in September 2010. (CVB/Sunnex)

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/breaking-news/2011/11/09/aquino-meet-obama-anew-189573