Obama to visit PH next month

File photo from Radio – Television Malacanang (RTVM)

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda confirmed Saturday that US President Barack Obama will visit the Philippines for the first time on October 11-12, 2013.

The Philippines is one of the four Asian countries that Obama will visit for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

He said to meet with PH President Benigno Aquino III.

“President Obama will meet President Aquino to discuss ways to further strengthen the enduring Philippines-U.S. alliance, including the expansion of our security, economic, and people-to-people ties,” Lacierda said at the press briefing.

The two presidents first met in 2010 when PNoy went to Washington.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said there are no final words yet if Obama and Aquino will talk about the country’s territorial conflict, specifically with China. Valte believes that the Department of Foreign Affairs will brief Pres. Obama.

The official statement from the White House said that Obama will lso visit Indonesia Brunei, and Malaysia from October 6 – 12, 2013.

“In Indonesia, (Obama) will attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders meeting… On the margins of the APEC meeting, the President will host a meeting of Leaders of the Trans-Pacific Partnership countries.

He will also meet with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to reaffirm our close bilateral ties and celebrate the third year of our Comprehensive Partnership,” the White House statement read.

“The President will then travel to the Philippines, the fifth Asian treaty ally he has visited during his presidency. He will meet with President Aquino to reaffirm the strong economic, people-to-people, and security links between our two countries,” the statement continued.

With reports from SunStar, InterAksyon.com, and The Philippine Star