Philippines president arrives in Washington

Philippines President Benigno Aquino arrived in wsahington last night starting a few-day official visit to the United States. During the visit, Aquino is scheduled to meet with President Barack Obama on Friday in the White house. "The meeting between President Aquino and President Obama will lay the groundwork for the future of the strategic partnership between the Philippines and the United States," said Jose Cuisia, the Philippines Ambassador in Washington said in a statement. "Aquino will also meet senior U.S. lawmakers for "discussions on our bilateral economic and defense cooperation, the shift in the focus of the United States toward the Asia-Pacific and ways to revitalize our alliance," the envoy added.