RANCHO MIRAGE, California) President Benigno S. Aquino III joins fellow Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders, during the first retreat session of the Special US-ASEAN Summit on the theme of “Promoting an Innovative, Entrepreneural ASEAN Economic Community.” at the Sunnyland’s Garden and Center in Rancho Mirage. The summit is a follow-up to the elevation of US-ASEAN dialogue relations into a Strategic Partnership last November in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (MNS photo)
LOS ANGELES, California (Mabuhay) – President Benigno S. Aquino III arrived in Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday afternoon for a two-day working visit following his participation to the US-ASEAN Leaders Summit.
President Aquino left Palm Springs International Airport after attending the special summit hosted by US President Barack Obama with leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the Sunnyland’s Estate in Rancho Mirage.
On Tuesday morning (February 16), the President attended the second retreat session themed “Protecting Peace, Prosperity, and Security in the Asia-Pacific.” He also joined a family photo opportunity with other world leaders. (California is 16 hours behind Manila)
While in Los Angeles, President Aquino will participate in a series of business meetings with the top executives of Walt Disney International, Western Digital Corporation, and AECOM’s Enterprise Growth Solutions.
(RANCHO MIRAGE, California) President Benigno S. Aquino III is welcomed by United States President Barack Obama at the Sunnylands Garden and Center in Rancho Mirage, the venue of the Special US-ASEAN Summit hosted by the United States of America (USA). The summit is a follow-up to the elevation of US-ASEAN dialogue relations into a Strategic Partnership last November in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The discussions will focus on trade, security, peace and stability in the region, including the issue on West Philippine Sea, and countering violent extremism. (MNS photo)
After the meetings, the President will deliver a speech before the Los Angeles World Affairs Council (LAWAC) to discuss “the growing tension between the Philippines and China over sovereignty issues in the South China Sea.”
The Chief Executive will also speak about “the new defense agreement between Manila and Washington, security in East Asia, and the future for economic growth in the Philippines and its neighbors in South East Asia.”
Founded in 1953, the LAWAC is a non-partisan and non-profit organization that seeks to promote greater understanding of current global issues by inviting authoritative and influential speakers.
Tomorrow (February 17), President Aquino will meet and greet the members of the Filipino community in Los Angeles. The Chief Executive will return to Manila after his meeting with the Filipino community. (MNS)