Biden to meet Philippine president on May 1

US President Joe Biden will meet with his Philippine counterpart Ferdinand Marcos Jr on May 1 at the White House to discuss deepening economic cooperation and the Indo-Pacific, a White House spokesperson said yesterday.

The two leaders will also discuss further economic cooperation, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.

"During the visit, President Biden will reaffirm the US' ironclad commitment to the defence of the Philippines, and the leaders will discuss efforts to strengthen the longstanding US-Philippines alliance," the statement said.

The Philippines this month identified four more military bases that the US may access amid shared concerns about China's growing might.

China's ambassador to Manila last week accused the Philippines of "stoking the fire" of regional tensions by offering the expanded base access to the US.

- Reuters