Aquino to meet with President Obama in Indonesia

President Benigno S. Aquino III will have a bilateral meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama during the 19th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit and Related Meetings in Indonesia on 18 November 2011, upon the latter's request.

Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert F. del Rosario said "the meeting will come on the heels of the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to mark the 60th Anniversary of the signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and the United States."

"These high level engagements between the two countries underscore their strong alliance and strategic partnership," Secretary del Rosario added.

The MDT, which was signed on August 30, 1951, formally forged the mutual commitment between the Philippines and the U.S. to come to each other's defense against external armed attack.

The two heads of states will discuss issues of common interest such as maritime security, non-proliferation, disaster mitigation, food security and education, among other issues. They will also exchange views and perspectives on key regional developments.

This is the second meeting between the two Presidents. The first one was held after the 2nd ASEAN-US Leaders' Meeting in New York on September 2010. - Official Gazette — ARA