Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's visit to the United States last week has strengthened cooperation between the two countries as Washington is seeking to expand influence in Southeast Asia.
U.S. EYES SOUTHEAST ASIA
The U.S.-Philippines summit, the first of its kind since President Barack Obama took office in January, took place at a time when the two countries are eager to further bilateral ties and security and economic cooperation.
Arroyo, whose visit came on the heels of those by leaders of key U.S. allies such as Japan and Israel, said the United States is "very essential" to the economic, diplomatic and national security of the Philippines.
Obama, meanwhile, hailed the traditional friendship between the two countries and called the Philippines the "coordinating country" in U.S. relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Washington has stepped up efforts to strengthen ties with Southeast Asia where sea lanes are vital to world trade in oil, food and manufactured goods.
The 10-member ASEAN, of which Manila is a founding nation, aims to create a European Union-style economic bloc by 2015 with more than 580 million consumers.
Last year, the U.S. share of trade with Southeast Asia fell to 12 percent from 17 percent since 1993, according to ASEAN statistics.
In a move to renew America's commitment in the region, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in July in Thailand with ASEAN countries. She said: "The United States is back in Southeast Asia."
The treaty, which gives the United States a seat at regional forums, offers a broader perspective for cooperation and marks a shift of U.S. policy in Southeast Asia from the former Bush administration, which was blamed for its security-first mindset on ties with the region.
