MANILA, Philippines — The president of the United States would “really like to meet” President Marcos when they both visit New York next week to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
“I know for a fact that the White House has indicated that President (Joe Biden) would really like to meet with President Marcos… (the US) being our number one ally,” Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez said Friday night in an interview with “The Chiefs” on Cignal TV’s One News.
“So, that is something we are confident that that meeting will take place,” added Romualdez, noting that the announcement of the two presidents’ meeting would only be made shortly before it actually happens.
The plan is for Marcos to hold several bilateral meetings with other heads of state on the sidelines of the UNGA and it is hoped Biden would be one of them.
“Obviously there are certain talking points, so to speak, that are already put forward by the staff of both leaders. But at the end of the day, President Biden is known to speak off the cuff. In other words, sometimes a meeting is scheduled only for 15 or 20 minutes but it can go on and double the time because he really believes in person-to-person meetings,” Romualdez said
The ambassador, who had personally interacted with Biden in the past, described him as “a very friendly person.”
“I’m sure he will have that kind of interaction with President Marcos,” he said.
In reference to Marcos’ meetings with other state leaders attending the UNGA, Romualdez said they would be more of a “getting-to-know-you meeting.
He also said that Marcos is likely to discuss security and economic issues during these brief encounters. “Our President is really looking at business opportunities that should redound to the Philippines. That is really what he wants to see. And there are, in fact, a lot of opportunities that are open,” he said.
The Philippine diplomat added that climate change may also be one of Marcos’ talking points because the issue is “very important to us.
“A lot of movement is in that direction, clean energy, new technology, all of these things are going to play a role. And the Philippines, fortunately for us, we have a lot to offer in terms of raw materials, for instance, biofuels, electric cars, our minerals and these things. So we have to take advantage of the new world, so to speak, and I think President Marcos realizes that, fortunately,” Romualdez said.
He identified the three very important aspects of Marcos’ visit, namely: to address the UN; hold bilateral meetings with as many national leaders as possible and meet with executives of American companies.
In addressing the UN, the ambassador believes the President would stress on global peace and security.
“He looks at the world now as the global prosperity and recovering from the pandemic require all nations to work together,” he said.
“(Third purpose of the US trip) which is also very important, is having meetings with executives of American companies. There has been a lot of interest ever since June 30 (President Marcos’ assumption of office),” Romualdez said.
“So we tried to put a face on the number of company executives who want to have a meeting with the President and also to hear our economic managers on what the future would be like in the Philippine economy. So these are three very important aspects of this trip, and we are hopeful that it will be a successful one,” he added.