The Philippines and the United States: A Dynamic Alliance

This was a timely and important speech by Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario. The US-Philippine alliance has been strengthened under the leadership of presidents Obama and Aquino, and the partnership has received increasing attention in the last two years.  A strong strategic partnership has formed from a solid foundation of mutual interest and common values.  Secretary Del Rosario and. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have been key drivers of the relationship.  Of late, Secretary Del Rosario has spoken directly about his country’s concerns regarding the South China Sea.
 
Secretary Del Rosario served as Ambassador Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary of the Republic of the Philippines to the United States from 2001 to 2006, after returning to the Philippines he was appointed to the post of Secretary of Foreign Affairs by President Benigno Aquino III. As ambassador to the United States, Secretary Del Rosario was instrumental to negotiating funding assistance, cooperation in counterterrorism, investment in local business, and greater access for Philippine exports to the U.S. Before entering the civil service, Secretary Del Rosario’s private business career covered a vast field including real estate, insurance, banking, shipping, retail, consumer products, pharmaceuticals, food industries and telecommunications. For his outstanding efforts in foreign relations, Secretary Del Rosario was conferred the Philippine’s highest possible award, the Order of Sikatuna, Rank of Datu by H.E. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2004.
 
He graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and is married Gretchen de Venecia with five children and six grandchildren.

Keynote Remarks by:

The Honorable Albert Del Rosario
Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs

Introduction by:

Ernie Bower
Senior Advisor and Director, Southeast Asia Program, CSIS
 
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