President Benigno Aquino III has arrived in Washington D.C. for a three-day official working visit where he is expected to meet with U.S. President Barack Obama and American business leaders.
Aquino arrived at the Andrews Air Force Base and was met by Ambassador Capricia Penavic Marshall, chief of Protocol of the United States Department and Philippine Embassy officials led by Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Cuisia and Defense and Armed Forces Attaché Brigadier General Cesar Yano.
Recognizing the presence of the members of the Filipino community, who were also at the airport to welcome him, President Aquino approached and shook hands with them.
After the airport ceremony, the President was immediately whisked in a motorcade to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, where he is billeted.
President Aquino’s meetings with President Obama, U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, including his meetings with the top leaders of the US Senate well as his attendance at the launching of the US-Philippine Society, and his meeting with business leaders and investors tops the list of his official engagements during the duration of his visit.
On Thursday (June 8 in Manila), the President will start his official activities by meeting with the Sithe Global/Denham Capital/GN Power at the Sackler Room of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. In the same hotel, he will also meet with the officials of the Underwriter Laboratories/Research and Development.
After his interview with the representatives of the Wall Street Journal headed by its Washington Bureau chief Gerald Seib, the President will visit the Quantico Marine Corps Base.
The President will also proceed to the Capitol Hill to meet with the top leaders of the US Senate at a reception hosted in his honor by Senate President ProTempore Daniel Inouye.
Then he will likewise grace the launching of the US-Philippine Society at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel where he is the guest of honor and speaker. The US-Philippine Society is a private sector initiative designed to encourage economic ties, promote trade and investment, support common strategic and political goals, and strengthen cultural, technological, educational, and people-to-people linkages.
On Friday (June 9 in Manila), President Aquino will receive the officials of the Citi Group and USAID on Mobile Financial Inclusion Proposal also at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
This will be followed by an interview with the President by the representatives of the Washington Post headed by its Editorial Page Editor, Fred Hiatt at the Washington Post Building in Washington D.C.
After his attendance at the luncheon to be hosted by US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton at the US Department of State, President Aquino will meet with US President Obama at the Oval Office in the White House where they are expected to discuss various issues of mutual interests that would further enhance the country’s strategic partnership with the United States.
