WASHINGTON – United States President Joe Biden will host Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr for a summit in Washington on April 11 to discuss economic relations and the Indo-Pacific region, the White House said on March 18.

The leaders “will discuss trilateral cooperation to promote inclusive economic growth and emerging technologies, advance clean energy supply chains and climate cooperation, and further peace and security in the Indo-Pacific and around the world”, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said.

Mr Marcos said last week that Manila’s sovereignty and territorial jurisdiction are essential principles should there be a resumption of joint exploration talks with China about the South China Sea. REUTERS