List of presidential trips made by Benigno Aquino III
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This is a list of international presidential trips made by Benigno Aquino III, the
15th 15 (fifteen) is the natural number following 14 (number), 14 and preceding 16 (number), 16. Mathematics 15 is: * A composite number, and the sixth semiprime; its proper divisors being , and . * A deficient number, a smooth number, a lucky ...
president of the Philippines. During his presidency, which began with his inauguration on June 30, 2010 and ended on June 30, 2016, Benigno Aquino III made 40 international trips to 24 countries internationally, including Vatican City. Aquino said he limited his foreign trips in order to focus on domestic issues. The number of visits per country where he travelled are: * One visit to
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Italy,
Laos Laos (, ''Lāo'' )), officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic ( Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ, French: République démocratique populaire lao), is a socialist ...
, New Zealand, Russia, Spain,
Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
, Thailand, United Kingdom, Vatican City, and Vietnam * Two visits to Cambodia,
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
, France, Singapore, and South Korea * Three visits to Malaysia and
Myanmar (Burma) Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John Wells explai ...
* Four visits to Brunei * Five visits to Indonesia * Six visits to
Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
* Seven visits to the United States


International visits


2010

In 2010, President Aquino made 3 official visits. (September 20 to 26, 2010) :President Aquino attended the 65th United Nations General Assembly and met with US President Barack Obama and leaders of several business sectors in New York City and San Francisco, California. The President talked at the UNGA regarding the status of the Philippine efforts to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). He also met with members of the Filipino-American communities in both cities. (October 26 to 30, 2010) :President Aquino flew to Hanoi for a two-day State Visit following the personal invitation of Vietnamese President
Nguyen Minh Triet Nguyễn () is the most common Vietnamese surname. Outside of Vietnam, the surname is commonly rendered without diacritics as Nguyen. Nguyên (元)is a different word and surname. By some estimates 39 percent of Vietnamese people bear this su ...
. The President met with the Vietnamese President for bilateral talks, Prime Minister
Nguyen Tan Dung Nguyễn () is the most common Vietnamese surname. Outside of Vietnam, the surname is commonly rendered without diacritics as Nguyen. Nguyên (元)is a different word and surname. By some estimates 39 percent of Vietnamese people bear this su ...
and with General Secretary of the Communist Party Nong Duc Manh. The visit of the President further strengthened the bilateral ties between the two countries which have grown for the past 34 years. President Aquino also met with the Filipino community living and working in Vietnam who are mostly in higher positions such as managerial and supervisory. After his State Visit, the President participated at the 17th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings where Vietnam was the current chair. On the sidelines of the summit, the President also had several bilateral meetings with neighboring countries such as Japan, Myanmar, South Korea, and Thailand among others. (November 12 to 14, 2010) :President Aquino participated at the 18th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting (AELM) in Yokohama, Japan. With the theme "Change and Action", this year's APEC Summit focuses on Regional Economic Integration, Growth Strategy, Human Security and Economic and Technical Cooperation. The President hold a bilateral meetings with the other Heads of State attending the summit. President Aquino already met with Prime Minister Naoto Kan during the ASEAN Summit in Hanoi, Vietnam last month, as the government of Japan approved a 21.4 billion peso Official Development Assistance (ODA) to fund major infrastructure projects in the Philippines.


2011

In 2011, President Aquino made 11 official visits. and (March 7 to 11, 2011) :President Aquino embarks on his first state visit to the Republic of Indonesia. He met with Indonesian President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (born 9 September 1949), commonly referred to by his initials SBY, is an Indonesian politician and retired army general who served as the sixth president of Indonesia from 2004 to 2014. A member of the Democratic Party ...
and was accorded ceremonial honors befitting a Head of State, such as an official welcome ceremony at the Istana Merdeka (Presidential Palace) and a state banquet at the Istana Negara (State Palace). The President's visit comes at an opportune time as both the Philippines and Indonesia enjoy strong bilateral relations for more than sixty years, marked by frequent exchange of visits by the Heads of State and high-level officials. President Aquino is on a three-day state visit to Singapore, after coming from Indonesia, to likewise strengthen bilateral and regional ties with fellow Association of Southeast Asian Nations member nations. He called on Singaporean President
S.R. Nathan Sellapan Ramanathan (; 3 July 1924 – 22 August 2016),. often known as S. R. Nathan, was a Singaporean politician who served as the sixth president of Singapore between 1999 and 2011. He was also the longest-serving president in Singapore's hi ...
and met Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to discuss government's Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiatives and various issues of bilateral and regional concern. The President also served as keynote speaker in the Singapore Business Forum/International Enterprise Singapore Eminent Leaders Lecture entitled "Philippines-Partnership for Progress" and the Ho Rih Hwa Leadership in Asia Public Lecture Series at the Singapore Management University. He also met members of the Filipino community and toured the Changi Water Reclamation Plant. At the Singapore Botanic Gardens, a new orchid breed was named after the visiting President as part of courtesies. (May 7 to 8, 2011) :President Aquino returned to Indonesia to attend the 18th ASEAN Leaders' Meeting. With the theme "Towards an ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations," the agenda focuses on a people-centered ASEAN: A Caring and Sharing Community adopted during the 12th ASEAN summit that was held in the Philippines last 2006. Some of the topics that will be discussed by the ten (10) member countries include the enhancement of sub-regional cooperation and narrowing its development gap, the critical role of Private-Public Partnership (PPP) and the ASEAN single window in which the Philippines will maximize the opportunities provided by the ASEAN economic integration through the free trade areas (FTAs). The meeting will also expedite the expansion of the East Asian Summit and other priority concerns such as maritime security, transnational crime, human rights and democracy. (May 26 to 27, 2011) :President Aquino undertook his first official visit to the Kingdom of Thailand to meet with Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. The Chief Executive was accorded with ceremonial honours befitting a head of state like an official welcome ceremony at the Government House in
Dusit Dusit () is the Thai name for Tushita, the fourth heavenly realm in Buddhist cosmology. The name may refer to: * Dusit District, a district of Bangkok *Dusit Palace, namesake of the district * Dusit Subdistrict, Bangkok, in Dusit District * Dusit S ...
, Bangkok. The Philippines and Thailand celebrated 62 years of bilateral relations on June 14 and the visit is expected to further strengthen the mutual ties between the two countries. It will also enhance Thai investments in the Philippines as well as boost Filipino companies present in Bangkok. The President was given an ''
honoris causa An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or ''ad hono ...
'' degree in Economics by Kasetsart University, the first agricultural university and the third oldest university in Thailand. President Aquino met with the Filipino community in Bangkok. (June 1 to 2, 2011) :President Aquino conducts a two-day state visit to Brunei Darussalam, following his successful trip to Thailand, to further strengthen bilateral relations with the Sultanate. The President will be received by His Royal Highness The Crown Prince
Al-Muhtadee Billah Crown Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah bin Hassanal Bolkiah ( ar, المهتدي بالله) (born 17 February 1974) is the eldest son of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and his wife Queen Saleha. He is the Crown Prince of Brunei Darussalam and is fir ...
upon his arrival at Bandar Seri Begawan International Airport, and will be given welcoming honors at Istana Nurul Iman, where he will be introduced to the Royal Family and the Grand Chamberlain. The President is also set to have an audience with His Majesty Sultan
Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Hassanal Bolkiah ibni Omar Ali Saifuddien III ( Jawi: ; born 15 July 1946) is the 29th and current Sultan and Yang di-Pertuan of Brunei since 1967 and the Prime Minister of Brunei since independence from the United Kingdom in 1984. He is one ...
. President Aquino met with some Bruneian businessmen and with the Filipino community here. He will also visit the New Philippine Embassy Chancery, where he will unveil the commemorative marker as part of the inaugural activities. (August 4 to 5, 2011) :President Aquino held a one-on-one meeting with MILF chairman Al Haj Murad Ibrahim and met other Filipino Muslim rebel groups, discussing peace process in Mindanao. (August 30 to September 3, 2011) :President Aquino embarked on a four-day state visit to the People's Republic of China. The visit was upon the invitation of President
Hu Jintao Hu Jintao (born 21 December 1942) is a Chinese politician who served as the 16–17th general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from 2002 to 2012, the 6th president of the People's Republic of China (PRC) from 2003 to 2013, an ...
, aimed to strengthen bilateral relations and to promote a people-centered partnership between the Philippines and China. President Aquino first visited Beijing, where he met with President Hu,
Chairman The chairperson, also chairman, chairwoman or chair, is the presiding officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office, who is typically elected or appointed by members of the grou ...
Wu Bangguo Wu Bangguo (born 12 July 1941) is a retired high-ranking politician in the People's Republic of China. He was the Chairman and Chinese Communist Party Committee Secretary of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress from 2003 to ...
and
Premier Premier is a title for the head of government in central governments, state governments and local governments of some countries. A second in command to a premier is designated as a deputy premier. A premier will normally be a head of governm ...
Wen Jiabao Wen Jiabao (born 15 September 1942) is a retired Chinese politician who served as the Premier of the State Council from 2003 to 2013. In his capacity as head of government, Wen was regarded as the leading figure behind China's economic policy ...
. He also had a series of meetings with businessmen and witnessed the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) in the areas of trade, investments, media, culture, education and tourism. In Shanghai, President Aquino convened with the civic officials led by the Secretary of Communist Party of China (CPC) Shanghai Municipal Committee, Yu Zhengsheng. He spoke before Yangtze River Delta Economic Zone officials and other business enterprise managers in a high-level forum. The President also welcomed possible trade investments during his meeting with various Filipino and Chinese businessmen based in Shanghai. On the last leg of his state visit, President Aquino went to Xiamen, Fujian, where he met with local officials before visiting Hongjian Village, the ancestral seat of the
Cojuangco Family The Cojuangco ( Pampangan: oˈxwəŋkuor oˈwəŋku ; ; ) clan is a prominent Filipino family descended from Co Yu Hwan (), who migrated to the Philippines in 1861 from Hongjian Village, Jiaomei Township, Zhangzhou, Fujian. He was commonly call ...
. There, he offered incense at the ancestral temple and interacted with some of his distant relatives. (September 18 to 21, 2011) :President Aquino heads to New York and Washington DC for a Working Visit to the United States of America. In New York, President Aquino participated in the launching of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) upon the invitation of United States President Barack Obama. OGP is a new multilateral initiative that aims to secure concrete commitments from governments to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption and harness new technologies to strengthen governance. The Philippines is one of 2 Asian countries that is part of the 8-country steering committee of the OGP. The President hold several business meetings in New York and lead the ringing of the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange. In Washington DC, President Aquino delivered a public lecture at the 2011 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, as well as meet with United States Senator
Daniel Inouye Daniel Ken Inouye ( ; September 7, 1924 – December 17, 2012) was an American lawyer and politician who served as a United States senator from Hawaii from 1963 until his death in 2012. Beginning in 1959, he was the first U.S. representative f ...
and the Filipino Community from the District of Columbia (DC), Virginia and Maryland. At a recent press briefing, the President said that "the drives we have already been achieving in the Philippines are already being highlighted by World Bank." (September 25 to 28, 2011) :President Aquino embarks on his second official visit to Japan to further strengthen diplomatic ties and elevate trade and economic relations, as well as socio-cultural, with one of the country's most cordial and dynamic partners in the region. The President's visit is set to focus on the promotion of the Philippines to investors, discussions on the use of nuclear energy and political-security issues, particularly the territorial disputes in the South China Sea, and other things of interests to both countries. President Aquino gave a keynote speech on the Philippine Economic Forum to inform the Japanese business community of investment opportunities and the renewed business climate under his administration. President Aquino's engagement includes a state call on Emperor Akihito and a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda. He thanked Japan for its continuing assistance to the Philippines and wants to return the favour when he visits the Ishinomaki City in Miyagi. President Aquino met with top business leaders in Japan, members of the Filipino community, high-level officials of the Japan-Philippines Economic Cooperation Committee (JPECC), International Friendship Exchange Council, and Japan Ship-owners' Association is also included among his official activities. (November 11 to 12, 2011) :President Aquino participates at the
APEC Summit The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC ) is an inter-governmental forum for 21 member economies in the Pacific Rim that promotes free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
in Honolulu. (November 17 to 19, 2011) :President Aquino participates at the 19th ASEAN Summit in
Bali Bali () is a province of Indonesia and the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands. East of Java and west of Lombok, the province includes the island of Bali and a few smaller neighbouring islands, notably Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nu ...
.


2012

In 2012, President Aquino made 9 official visits. (April 2 to 4, 2012) :President Aquino participated at the 20th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and the Celebration of the 45th Anniversary of ASEAN in
Phnom Penh Phnom Penh (; km, ភ្នំពេញ, ) is the capital and most populous city of Cambodia. It has been the national capital since the French protectorate of Cambodia and has grown to become the nation's primate city and its economic, indus ...
. He joined with other leaders of ASEAN member-countries in the discussions, where North Korea's planned long-range missile launch will most likely to be discussed, as well as other issues of mutual concerns. The President had a coffee meeting with the Philippine media covering the summit on April 3 and met the Filipino community in Cambodia on his third day of visit here. and (June 4 to 10, 2012) :President Aquino had a bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister
David Cameron David William Donald Cameron (born 9 October 1966) is a British former politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2016 and Leader of the Conservative Party from 2005 to 2016. He previously served as Leader o ...
when he visited London. Both leaders discussed Philippines-U.K political and economic cooperation, the U.K's participation in the International Contact Group, regional and international issues, and anti-corruption and good governance practices of both the Philippine and U.K governments. The President also met
Prince Andrew, Duke of York Prince Andrew, Duke of York, (Andrew Albert Christian Edward; born 19 February 1960) is a member of the British royal family. He is the younger brother of King Charles III and the third child and second son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince ...
. U.S President Barack Obama welcomed President Aquino to the White House. The Philippines is a long-standing friend and ally of the United States. The two leaders discussed ways to deepen bilateral cooperation. (September 8 to 10, 2012) :President Aquino attended the
APEC Russia 2012 The APEC Russia 2012 ( rus, Саммит АТЭС Владивосток-2012, Sammit ATES Vladivostok-2012) was the 24th annual gathering of APEC leaders. Leaders from the member economies met on Russky Island, off the coast of Vladivostok, Russ ...
in Vladivostok. (September 23, 2012) :President Aquino attended the wedding of the daughter of
Sultan Sultan (; ar, سلطان ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it ...
Hassanal Bolkiah Hassanal Bolkiah ibni Omar Ali Saifuddien III ( Jawi: ; born 15 July 1946) is the 29th and current Sultan and Yang di-Pertuan of Brunei since 1967 and the Prime Minister of Brunei since independence from the United Kingdom in 1984. He is one ...
, Princess Hajah Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah. and (October 22 to 26, 2012) :President Aquino embarks on a state visit to New Zealand and Australia, the President held a meeting with Prime Minister John Key, Governor-General Quentin Bryce and Prime Minister
Julia Gillard Julia Eileen Gillard (born 29 September 1961) is an Australian former politician who served as the 27th prime minister of Australia from 2010 to 2013, holding office as leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP). She is the first and only ...
. (November 5 to 6, 2012) :President Aquino attended the 10th ASEAN-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Vientiane. (November 18 to 20, 2012) :President Aquino attended the 21st ASEAN Summit in
Phnom Penh Phnom Penh (; km, ភ្នំពេញ, ) is the capital and most populous city of Cambodia. It has been the national capital since the French protectorate of Cambodia and has grown to become the nation's primate city and its economic, indus ...
.


2013

In 2013, President Aquino made 7 official visits. (January 24 to 27, 2013) :President Aquino attended the 2013 World Economic Forum in
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. (April 24 to 25, 2013) :President Aquino attended the 22nd ASEAN Summit in Bandar Seri Begawan. (June 7 to 8, 2013) President Aquino attended the World Economic Forum on East Asia in Naypyidaw. and (October 6 to 10, 2013) :President Aquino attended the APEC Indonesia 2013 in
Bali Bali () is a province of Indonesia and the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands. East of Java and west of Lombok, the province includes the island of Bali and a few smaller neighbouring islands, notably Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nu ...
, the 23rd ASEAN Summit and the 8th East Asia Summit in Bandar Seri Begawan. (October 17 to 18, 2013) :State visit, the President met with President Park Geun-hye. (December 12 to 14, 2013) :President Aquino attended the 40th ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit in Tokyo.


2014

In 2014, President Aquino made 13 official visits. (February 27 to 28, 2014) :State visit, meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister
Najib Razak Dato' Sri Haji Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak ( ms, محمد نجيب بن عبد الرزاق, label= Jawi, script=arab, italic=unset, ; born 23 July 1953) is a Malaysian politician who served as the 6th prime minister of Malaysi ...
focusing on the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro. He also attended the Business Opportunities Forum. (May 10 to 11, 2014) :President Aquino attended the 24th ASEAN Summit in Naypyidaw. (June 24, 2014) :On June 24, 2014, President Aquino undertook a one-day working visit to Japan that cost ₱8.8 million. He first travelled to Tokyo to meet with Prime Minister Shinzō Abe at his official residence for a summit meeting, working lunch, and a joint press conference. During their 45-minute meeting, President Aquino and Prime Minister Abe discussed ways to strengthen their nations' strategic cooperation with the intensifying tensions over the
territorial disputes A territorial dispute or boundary dispute is a disagreement over the possession or control of land between two or more political entities. Context and definitions Territorial disputes are often related to the possession of natural resources su ...
in the South China Sea, where the Prime Minister had agreed to urge the reinterpretation of Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution which would allow the
Japan Self-Defense Forces The Japan Self-Defense Forces ( ja, 自衛隊, Jieitai; abbreviated JSDF), also informally known as the Japanese Armed Forces, are the unified ''de facto''Since Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution outlaws the formation of armed forces, the ...
to assist in defending Japan's allies, to which the President expressed support. He later travelled to
Hiroshima is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture in Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 1,199,391. The gross domestic product (GDP) in Greater Hiroshima, Hiroshima Urban Employment Area, was US$61.3 billion as of 2010. Kazumi Matsui h ...
to address the "Consolidation for Peace for Mindanao" conference organized by the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Research and Education for Peace council from the Universiti Sains Malaysia. The conference expressed Japan's support over the peace process with Bangsamoro. In his address, President Aquino thanked Japan for their support and associated the peace process with the
atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki The United States detonated two atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 and 9 August 1945, respectively. The two bombings killed between 129,000 and 226,000 people, most of whom were civilians, and remain the onl ...
that occurred during World War II nearly seventy years prior. After addressing the conference, the President visited the
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is a memorial park in the center of Hiroshima, Japan. It is dedicated to the legacy of Hiroshima as the first city in the world to suffer a Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, nuclear attack at the end of World War II, and to the memorie ...
, where he laid a wreath at the Memorial Cenotaph and toured the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, before departing for Manila later that evening. , , , and (September 14 to 24, 2014) :On his European trip, President Aquino travelled to Madrid (September 14–15), Brussels (September 15–17), Paris (September 17–19), and Berlin (September 19–20) to enhance bilateral and economic cooperation between the Philippines and the countries of the said cities. After his European trip, President Aquino travelled across the Atlantic Ocean to the United States for a working visit in Boston (September 20–22), New York City (September 22–24), and San Francisco (September 24), where he also attended the United Nations Climate Summit in New York upon the invitation of Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon Ban Ki-moon (; ; born 13 June 1944) is a South Korean politician and diplomat who served as the eighth secretary-general of the United Nations between 2007 and 2016. Prior to his appointment as secretary-general, Ban was his country's Minister ...
and U.S. President Barack Obama. :On Sunday, September 14, President Aquino and his delegation arrived at Torrejón Air Base in Madrid at approximately 7:22 am
CEST CEST or cest may refer to: * Central European Summer Time (UTC+2), daylight saving time observed in the central European time zone * Cognitive-Experiential Self-Theory * Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer, a subset of Magnetization transfer in ...
. He met with former Prime Minister
José María Aznar José María Alfredo Aznar López (; born 25 February 1953) is a Spanish politician who was the prime minister of Spain from 1996 to 2004. He led the People's Party (PP), the dominant centre-right political party in Spain. A member of the Fre ...
, witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding for the Madrid Fusión-Manila gastronomic event to be held in Manila in April 2015, and laid a wreath at a local monument honoring
José Rizal José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda (, ; June 19, 1861 – December 30, 1896) was a Filipino nationalist, writer and polymath active at the end of the Spanish colonial period of the Philippines. He is considered the national he ...
, replicating the Rizal Monument in Manila. He also addressed the Filipino community in Spain at the
Colegio Nuestra Señora de las Maravillas Colegio Nuestra Señora de las Maravillas (English:Our Lady of Wonders) is a private Catholic school in Madrid, Spain, belonging to the order of La Salle founded in 1892 by Brother Justinus Marie, belonging to the Brothers of the Christian Schools ...
. After, President Aquino held a series of business meetings with seven Spanish firms, namely
Acciona Acciona, S.A. () is a Spanish multinational conglomerate dedicated to the development and management of infrastructure (construction, water, industrial and services) and renewable energy. The company, via subsidiary Acciona Energy, produces 21 te ...
, Abengoa, Indra Sistemas, Globalvia, Grupo ACS, INECO, and
Calidad Pascual Calidad Pascual S.A.U. (formerly known as Grupo Leche Pascual) is a Spanish dairy company based in Madrid, Spain. The company was founded as Grupo Leche Pascual in 1969 by Tomás Pascual. It changed name as Calidad Pascual in January 2014. His ...
. Finally, President Aquino addressed the Networking with the Philippine Business Delegation event, where he urged investment in the Philippines. :On Monday, September 15, President Aquino met with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy at Palacio de La Moncloa to discuss bilateral economic cooperation with the economic growth of both their countries. During their bilateral meeting, President Aquino informed Prime Minister Rajoy of the situations regarding the
territorial disputes A territorial dispute or boundary dispute is a disagreement over the possession or control of land between two or more political entities. Context and definitions Territorial disputes are often related to the possession of natural resources su ...
in the South China Sea, urging support over the Philippines' proposed Triple Action Plan, and thanked the Prime Minister for Spain's provision of aid to the victims of Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), the Zamboanga City crisis, and the
2013 Bohol earthquake The 2013 Bohol earthquake occurred on October 15 at in Bohol, an island province located in Central Visayas, Philippines. The magnitude of the earthquake was recorded at 7.2, with epicenter of Sagbayan, and its depth of focus was . It affe ...
. The two heads of government also discussed efforts to cease
illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) is an issue around the world. Fishing industry observers believe IUU occurs in most fisheries, and accounts for up to 30% of total catches in some important fisheries. Illegal fishing takes pl ...
and a
bilateral air transport agreement An air transport agreement (also sometimes called an air service agreement or ATA or ASA) is a bilateral agreement to allow international commercial air transport services between signatories. The bilateral system has its basis under the Chicago ...
to allow non-stop flights between the two countries. President Aquino then headed to the Palace of Zarzuela to meet with
King Felipe VI Felipe VI (;, * eu, Felipe VI.a, * ca, Felip VI, * gl, Filipe VI, . Felipe Juan Pablo Alfonso de Todos los Santos de Borbón y Grecia; born 30 January 1968) is King of Spain. He is the son of former King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía, and ...
. At around noon, President Aquino and his delegation headed to Torrejón Air Base to depart Madrid for Brussels, arriving in Brussels at around 2:05 pm CEST. After arriving, President Aquino visited the
Berlaymont building The Berlaymont () is an office building in Brussels, Belgium, which houses the headquarters of the European Commission, the executive branch of the European Union (EU). The structure is located on the Robert Schuman Roundabout at 200, rue de l ...
, the headquarters of the European Commission, to meet with European Commission President
José Manuel Barroso José Manuel Durão Barroso (; born 23 March 1956) is a Portuguese politician and university teacher, currently serving as non-executive chairman of Goldman Sachs International. He previously served as the 11th president of the European Commi ...
and seek support from the European Union to peacefully resolve the territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The two presidents also discussed the Philippines' cooperation with the European Commission's
Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries The Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) is a Directorate-General of the European Commission, responsible for the policy area of fisheries, the Law of the Sea and Maritime Affairs of the European Union. The current dire ...
to "prevent, deter and eliminate" illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Later that afternoon, President Aquino met with King Philippe at the Royal Palace of Brussels. President Aquino thanked King Philippe for Belgium's support in the rehabilitation of the damage caused by Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) and their support over the
Bangsamoro peace process In the late 1960s, an independence movement was founded in Mindanao, the Philippines to separate the Muslim majority- Moro areas from the rest of the Philippines. In late 1968, at least 28 Muslim volunteers from Sulu who were being trained for a ...
. In the evening, President Aquino met with around 800 members of the Filipino communities in Belgium and Luxembourg at the
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. :On Tuesday, September 16, President Aquino met with
European Council The European Council (informally EUCO) is a collegiate body that defines the overall political direction and priorities of the European Union. It is composed of the heads of state or government of the EU member states, the President of the E ...
President Herman Van Rompuy to discuss the cooperation between the Philippines and the European Union with the signing of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, the Bangsamoro peace process, the Maritime Security Strategy, and the European Union's contributions to resolving the territorial disputes in the South China Sea. After their meeting, President Aquino met with Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo at the Prime Minister's official residence in Rue de la Loi, where the two heads of government discussed trade relations. In the afternoon, President Aquino participated at a conference organized by the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry in association with Eurochambres and
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, aimed at urging Belgian businesses to invest in the Philippines' public-private partnership programs. He later held a series of business meetings with officials from Royal Dutch Shell,
HSBC HSBC Holdings plc is a British multinational universal bank and financial services holding company. It is the largest bank in Europe by total assets ahead of BNP Paribas, with US$2.953 trillion as of December 2021. In 2021, HSBC had $10.8 tri ...
, and Asia House. In the evening, President Aquino headed to the
Château of Val-Duchesse The Château of Val-Duchesse (french: Château de Val-Duchesse, nl, Kasteel van Hertoginnedal) is a mansion and estate situated in the municipality of Auderghem in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium. The château, which occupies the site of ...
to meet with the Egmont Institute. Upon arriving at the chateau, the President's convoy was greeted by protesters from Migrante Europe and other Filipino human rights organizations, who demand his resignation after "four years of massive corruption, blatant subservience to US imperialist dictates and brutal leadership," according to Migrante Europe chairman Garry Martinez. Upon meeting with the Egmont Institute, the President delivered a speech on addressing local and global issues through international cooperation. :On Wednesday, September 17, President Aquino and his delegation departed Brussels and arrived at
Paris Orly Airport Paris Orly Airport (french: Aéroport de Paris-Orly), commonly referred to as Orly , is one of two international airports serving the French capital, Paris, the other one being Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). It is located partially in Orly an ...
at around 10:05 am CEST. President Aquino's visit to France, the first of a Philippine President since President
Fidel V. Ramos Fidel Valdez Ramos (, ; March 18, 1928 – July 31, 2022), popularly known as FVR and Eddie Ramos, was a Filipino general and politician who served as the 12th president of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. He was the only career military ...
's visit in 1994, was aimed to "reap economic, political and cultural gains" to enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries, according to French Ambassador Gilles Garachon. After arriving, the President attended a wreath laying ceremony with military honors at the
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier A Tomb of the Unknown Soldier or Tomb of the Unknown Warrior is a monument dedicated to the services of an unknown soldier and to the common memories of all soldiers killed in war. Such tombs can be found in many nations and are usually high-prof ...
under the
Arc de Triomphe The Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile (, , ; ) is one of the most famous monuments in Paris, France, standing at the western end of the Champs-Élysées at the centre of Place Charles de Gaulle, formerly named Place de l'Étoile—the ''étoile'' ...
. President Aquino then headed to the
Élysée Palace The Élysée Palace (french: Palais de l'Élysée; ) is the official residence of the President of the French Republic. Completed in 1722, it was built for nobleman and army officer Louis Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, who had been appointed Gover ...
to meet with President
François Hollande François Gérard Georges Nicolas Hollande (; born 12 August 1954) is a French politician who served as President of France from 2012 to 2017. He previously was First Secretary of the Socialist Party (PS) from 1997 to 2008, Mayor of Tulle from ...
. During their bilateral meeting, the two presidents discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation and efforts to alleviate climate change. President Hollande also expressed his support to resolve the territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The two presidents later witnessed the signing of bilateral agreements on air services, education, and cultural ties, before participating in a working lunch and a joint press conference. After his meeting with President Hollande, President Aquino held business meetings with executives from Airbus, Schneider Electric, and
Teleperformance Teleperformance SE (TP) is an omnichannel company headquartered in France. The company provides customer acquisition management, customer care, technical support, debt collection, social media services, and other services. It operates in 88 cou ...
. He later met with Prime Minister Manuel Valls at Hôtel Matignon to discuss the Filipino community in France and their contributions to the
French economy French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with France ...
. In the evening, the President met with and addressed the Filipino community in France at Chapelle Sainte Bernadette. :On Thursday, September 18, President Aquino participated in the Philippines–France Business Leaders' Roundtable, where he met with 20 Filipino and French business executives to discuss ways to improve bilateral trade and investment, as well as to promote business opportunities for both countries. After, the President addressed the Philippine Business Opportunities Forum at the InterContinental Paris Le Grand Hotel. In his speech, he urged French businesses to invest in the Philippines, saying that the current state of the
Philippine economy The economy of the Philippines is the world's 32nd largest economy by nominal GDP according to the International Monetary Fund 2021 and the 12th largest economy in Asia, and the 3rd largest economy in the ASEAN after Indonesia and Thailan ...
has been appreciated as a "renaissance" from an economy that was "kept in the darkness of apathy and hopelessness by an administration motivated only by self-service, as opposed to public service." At the hotel, the President also met with officials from the Ayala Corporation,
Alstom Alstom SA is a French multinational rolling stock manufacturer operating worldwide in rail transport markets, active in the fields of passenger transportation, signalling, and locomotives, with products including the AGV, TGV, Eurostar, Avelia ...
Bouygues Bouygues S.A. () is a French industrial group headquartered in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, 8th arrondissement of Paris, France. Bouygues is listed on the Euronext, Euronext Paris exchange and is a blue chip (stock market), blue chip in the C ...
, and the
Egis Group Egis is an international company active in the consulting, construction engineering and mobility service sectors that design and operate intelligent infrastructure and buildings. Egis operates in 120 countries and has 16,200 employees. History ...
to discuss their expansion plans in the Philippines, having worked on the South Extension of the Manila Light Rail Transit System Line 1. President Aquino later toured the European Headquarters of Dassault Systèmes in Vélizy-Villacoublay. In the evening, President Aquino addressed a forum organized by the Institut français des relations internationales. The President also toured the Louvre later that evening. :On Friday, September 19, President Aquino and his delegation departed Paris for Berlin, the last stop of his European trip before heading to the United States. He arrived at Berlin Tegel Airport at around 10:45 am CEST. From there, the President travelled to the
German Chancellery The German Chancellery (german: Bundeskanzleramt, , more faithfully translated as ''Federal Chancellery'' or ''Office of the Federal Chancellor'') is an agency serving the executive office of the chancellor of Germany, the head of the federal gov ...
to meet with
Chancellor Chancellor ( la, cancellarius) is a title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the or lattice work screens of a basilica or law cou ...
Angela Merkel, where he was given military honors. During their meeting, Chancellor Merkel agreed to support the Philippines in resolving the territorial disputes in the South China Sea upon President Aquino's request. They also witnessed the signing of bilateral agreements on social security, skills training, and trade, which was followed by a working lunch and a joint press statement. After, President Aquino headed to the Bellevue Palace to meet with President Joachim Gauck. Later that afternoon, President Aquino met with officials from SAP SE, before addressing a policy forum organized by Körber-Stiftung and the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business. He later witnessed the signing of a health care agreement between the Ayala Corporation and
Siemens Siemens AG ( ) is a German multinational conglomerate corporation and the largest industrial manufacturing company in Europe headquartered in Munich with branch offices abroad. The principal divisions of the corporation are ''Industry'', '' ...
and met with officials from Knauf, Investor AB, Saab Group, and
Stihl Stihl (, ) is a German manufacturer of chainsaws and other handheld power equipment including trimmers and blowers. Their headquarters are in Waiblingen, Baden-Württemberg, near Stuttgart, Germany. Stihl was founded in 1926 by Andreas Stihl, an ...
, as well as former Federal Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy Michael Glos. In the evening, the President met with the Filipino community in Germany. :On Saturday, September 20, President Aquino visited the Philippine embassy in Berlin, where he was awarded a Freedom Medal from the
Friedrich Naumann Foundation The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (german: Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit) (''FNF''), is a German foundation for liberal politics, related to the Free Democratic Party. Established in 1958 by Theodor Heuss, the first pres ...
for "his successful reforms in the areas of education, anti-corruption and rule of law." Before departing Berlin for the United States, the President toured the
Berlin Hauptbahnhof Berlin Hauptbahnhof () (English: Berlin Central Station) is the main railway station in Berlin, Germany. It came into full operation two days after a ceremonial opening on 26 May 2006. It is located on the site of the historic Lehrter Bahnhof, ...
and the
Berlin Wall The Berlin Wall (german: Berliner Mauer, ) was a guarded concrete barrier that encircled West Berlin from 1961 to 1989, separating it from East Berlin and East Germany (GDR). Construction of the Berlin Wall was commenced by the government ...
. President Aquino and his delegation departed Berlin Tegel Airport at around 6:30 pm CEST, ending his week-long European trip with $2.3 billion worth of investment pledges to the Philippines from 19 European-based companies. He arrived at the Logan International Airport in Boston at approximately 8:33 pm EDT, beginning his four-day working visit to the United States. It marked the President's first visit to Boston since the
assassination Assassination is the murder of a prominent or important person, such as a head of state, head of government, politician, world leader, member of a royal family or CEO. The murder of a celebrity, activist, or artist, though they may not have ...
of his father, former
Senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
Benigno Aquino Jr., in 1983 upon returning from
exile Exile is primarily penal expulsion from one's native country, and secondarily expatriation or prolonged absence from one's homeland under either the compulsion of circumstance or the rigors of some high purpose. Usually persons and peoples suf ...
in Boston. :On Sunday, September 21, President Aquino first met with family friends for a private lunch. In the afternoon, he visited
Boston College Boston College (BC) is a private Jesuit research university in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Founded in 1863, the university has more than 9,300 full-time undergraduates and nearly 5,000 graduate students. Although Boston College is classifie ...
where he celebrated Mass at the college's Parish of St. Ignatius of Loyola and attended a convocation with the local Filipino-American community. In his speech, the President updated the community on improvements made in the Philippines regarding the economy, education, and liability of officials, among others. He also recalled moments from his family's three-year exile in Boston, which he calls his "formative years". :On Monday, September 22, President Aquino dined with Representative
Joseph P. Kennedy III Joseph Patrick Kennedy III (born October 4, 1980) is an American lawyer, politician and diplomat who currently serves as United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland since 2022. Prior to this, Kennedy served as the U.S. representative for fr ...
at a local pizzeria in
Newton Newton most commonly refers to: * Isaac Newton (1642–1726/1727), English scientist * Newton (unit), SI unit of force named after Isaac Newton Newton may also refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Newton'' (film), a 2017 Indian film * Newton ( ...
. The President then visited his former neighborhood in Chestnut Hill, where he visited his former residence, met with its current owner, as well as former neighbors. Later that afternoon, President Aquino was interviewed by radio journalist
Jeremy Hobson Jeremy Hobson is an American national radio journalist. He was a co-host, along with Robin Young and Tonya Mosley, of NPR and WBUR's ''Here and Now''. He left the show in October 2020. Education and personal life A native of Urbana, Illinois, ...
on his program ''
Here and Now Here and Now may refer to: Music * Here & Now (band), an English progressive/space rock band * Here and Now Tour, a series of concert tours Albums * ''Here and Now'' (The Jazztet album) (1962) * ''Here and Now'' (Hampton Hawes album) (1965) * ...
'' on WBUR-FM, where he was asked on his response to climate change, ahead of the United Nations Climate Summit, and the
threat A threat is a communication of intent to inflict harm or loss on another person. Intimidation is a tactic used between conflicting parties to make the other timid or psychologically insecure for coercion or control. The act of intimidation for co ...
of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. In the evening, President Aquino delivered a policy speech at the
John F. Kennedy School of Government The Harvard Kennedy School (HKS), officially the John F. Kennedy School of Government, is the school of public policy and government of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The school offers master's degrees in public policy, public ...
at Harvard University, where he discussed how the school's teachings shaped the skills of many Filipino politicians in his administration, including several members of his
Cabinet Cabinet or The Cabinet may refer to: Furniture * Cabinetry, a box-shaped piece of furniture with doors and/or drawers * Display cabinet, a piece of furniture with one or more transparent glass sheets or transparent polycarbonate sheets * Filing ...
, to work towards redeveloping the Philippines from the effects of former President
Ferdinand Marcos Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr. ( , , ; September 11, 1917 – September 28, 1989) was a Filipino politician, lawyer, dictator, and kleptocrat who was the 10th president of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He ruled under martial ...
's administration with the declaration of martial law to the administration of his predecessor Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, saying: "Like
JFK John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to by his initials JFK and the nickname Jack, was an American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until his assassination i ...
, Ninoy, and
Cory As a given name, Cory is used by both males and females. It is a variation of the name Cora, which has Greek origins and is the maiden name of the goddess Persephone. The name also can have origins from the Gaelic word ''coire'', which means "in ...
, each one has the capacity to dream, to die, to live, to fight, to stand for something, to ask 'why not' when the challenges seem insurmountable. Thus can we transform the world for the better." After his speech, President Aquino and his delegation departed Boston for New York City, arriving at the
Newark Liberty International Airport Newark Liberty International Airport , originally Newark Metropolitan Airport and later Newark International Airport, is an international airport straddling the boundary between the cities of Newark in Essex County and Elizabeth in Union Count ...
at approximately 8:27 pm EDT, where he was greeted by Philippine Ambassador to the United Nations
Libran N. Cabactulan Libran Nuevas Cabactulan (born February 20, 1950) is a Filipino career diplomat, who served as the 18th Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations, replacing former Ambassador and retired Chief Justice Hilari ...
. :On the morning of Tuesday, September 23, President Aquino headed to the United Nations Headquarters to participate in the United Nations Climate Summit. In his four-minute speech, the President urged the international community to assist the Philippines, a major victim to the effects of climate change being frequently visited by typhoons, in combating climate change through funding and the provision of technology, saying: "We he Philippineshave never lacked in resolve. What we lack is the access to technology, financing, and investment that would allow us to accelerate our strategy." Following the summit, President Aquino participated in a round table discussion with business executives from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the
US-ASEAN Business Council The US-ASEAN Business Council (also known as "US-ABC" or "USABC") is an advocacy group that aims to foster economic growth and trade ties between the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)'s ten member countries. I ...
, and the US-Philippines Society to discuss economic expansion and investment in the Philippines. Later that day, President Aquino participated in the
World Leaders Forum Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhattan ...
at the
Low Memorial Library The Low Memorial Library (nicknamed Low) is a building at the center of Columbia University's Morningside Heights campus in Manhattan, New York City, United States. The building, located near 116th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam Aven ...
of Columbia University, where he delivered a speech and answered questions from the audience. In his speech, the President spoke on the importance of reforms to address challenges faced constantly by the Philippines. While answering an audience member's question, President Aquino was interrupted by at least three protesters who demanded a response from the President regarding alleged acts of impunity in the Philippines and corruption over Typhoon Haiyan aid. President Aquino refused to respond and Columbia University President Lee Bollinger apologized over the incident. :On the last day of his trip, Wednesday, September 24, President Aquino and his delegation departed Newark and travelled across the United States for a brief visit to San Francisco, the last stop of his working visit to the United States. He arrived at
San Francisco International Airport San Francisco International Airport is an international airport in an unincorporated area of San Mateo County, south of Downtown San Francisco. It has flights to points throughout North America and is a major gateway to Europe, the Middle E ...
at approximately 9:38 am PDT. In San Francisco, President Aquino held business meetings with senior officials from
Caesars Entertainment Corporation Harrah's Entertainment (later named Caesars Entertainment Corporation, previously The Promus Companies) was an American casino and hotel company founded in Reno, Nevada, and based in Paradise, Nevada, that operated over 50 properties and seven go ...
, International Development, and Wells Fargo. Outside the Wells Fargo headquarters on Haight Street, President Aquino was met by protesters from Filipino-American communities in California, the largest of Filipino-American communities in the United States, who were disappointed by the President's decision to decline their invitation and prioritize business meetings, instead of meeting with the community. President Aquino and his delegation departed San Francisco for Manila at around 4:40 pm PDT, ending his 10-day trip to Europe and the United States. (October 9 to 10, 2014) :President Aquino attended the 7th Bali Democracy Forum in Nusa Dua,
Bali Bali () is a province of Indonesia and the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands. East of Java and west of Lombok, the province includes the island of Bali and a few smaller neighbouring islands, notably Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nu ...
. He, along with Indonesian President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (born 9 September 1949), commonly referred to by his initials SBY, is an Indonesian politician and retired army general who served as the sixth president of Indonesia from 2004 to 2014. A member of the Democratic Party ...
, co-chaired the forum aimed at reinforcing democracy in the region. On the sidelines of the forum, President Aquino was awarded the Bintang Republik Indonesia Adipurna ("Star of the Republic of Indonesia") by President Yudhoyono, the highest award honored by the
Government of Indonesia The term Government of Indonesia ( id, Pemerintah Indonesia) can have a number of different meanings. At its widest, it can refer collectively to the three traditional branches of government – the executive branch, legislative branch and ju ...
, becoming the first Filipino to receive such award. and (November 9 to 13, 2014) :President Aquino travelled to Beijing to attend the 26th
APEC Summit The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC ) is an inter-governmental forum for 21 member economies in the Pacific Rim that promotes free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
(November 9–11) and Naypyidaw to attend the 25th ASEAN Summit and the
Ninth East Asia Summit The Ninth East Asia Summit was held in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar (Burma) on November 12–13, 2014. The East Asia Summit is an annual meeting of national leaders from the East Asian region and adjoining countries. Attending delegations The heads of s ...
(November 11–13). The summit meetings were a chance for President Aquino to share the Philippines' plans to contribute to economic integration and regional growth, as well as the country's eagerness to tackle global issues, including
human trafficking Human trafficking is the trade of humans for the purpose of forced labour, sexual slavery, or commercial sexual exploitation for the trafficker or others. This may encompass providing a spouse in the context of forced marriage, or the extrac ...
and pollution. The government spent ₱24 million on the trip. :On Sunday, November 9, President Aquino arrived at the Beijing Capital International Airport at around 1:20 pm CST. In Beijing, he first headed to the China National Convention Center to attend the APEC CEO Summit, where he addressed business leaders on the economic growth of the Philippines through economic reforms and innovation. He also emphasized the country's transition from being called the "Sick Man of Asia" to " Asia's Rising Tiger". He then met with Vietnamese President
Trương Tấn Sang Trương Tấn Sang (born 21 January 1949) is a Vietnamese politician, who served as the seventh President of Vietnam from 2011 to 2016. He was one of Vietnam's top leaders, alongside prime minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng and Party general secret ...
at the Philippine embassy in Beijing, where the two presidents developed an agenda for a
strategic partnership A strategic partnership (also see strategic alliance) is a relationship between two commercial enterprises, usually formalized by one or more business contracts. A strategic partnership will usually fall short of a legal partnership entity, agency, ...
that would improve economic and social ties. In the evening, the President met with Moody's Corporation CEO Raymond W. McDaniel Jr., where they discussed efforts on preventing the
Ebola virus epidemic Ebola, also known as Ebola virus disease (EVD) and Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF), is a viral hemorrhagic fever in humans and other primates, caused by ebolaviruses. Symptoms typically start anywhere between two days and three weeks after becom ...
from reaching the Philippines and rehabilitation efforts on
Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) Typhoon Haiyan, known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Yolanda, was one of the most powerful tropical cyclones ever recorded. On making landfall, Haiyan devastated portions of Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines. It is one of the ...
. The President also met with executives from Sanofi and
Johnson & Johnson Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is an American multinational corporation founded in 1886 that develops medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and consumer packaged goods. Its common stock is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the company i ...
. :On Monday, November 10, President Aquino returned to the Philippine embassy in Beijing to hold a series of bilateral meetings with Canadian Prime Minister
Stephen Harper Stephen Joseph Harper (born April 30, 1959) is a Canadian politician who served as the 22nd prime minister of Canada from 2006 to 2015. Harper is the first and only prime minister to come from the modern-day Conservative Party of Canada, ...
, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, and Papuan Prime Minister Peter O'Neill. With Prime Minister Harper, the two heads of government discussed rehabilitation efforts on Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) and the Philippines' status in
Canada's Global Markets Action Plan The Global Markets Action Plan (GMAP) was Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government strategy to generate employment opportunities for Canadians by expanding Canadian businesses and investment in other countries in a highly competitive global envi ...
. With Prime Minister Prayut, the two heads of government discussed strengthening economic ties between the Philippines and Thailand, particularly on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises and local farmers. With Prime Minister Key, the two heads of government discussed rehabilitation efforts on Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) and the expansion of air routes between New Zealand and the Philippines. The President also thanked the Prime Minister for New Zealand's support for the peace process with Bangsamoro. With Prime Minister O'Neill, the two heads of government discussed the enhancement of cooperation between Papua New Guinea and the Philippines on trade, investment, health services, and agriculture. In the afternoon, President Aquino attended the APEC Business Advisory Council. In the evening, the President joined the other APEC leaders in attending the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting Welcome Dinner at the Beijing National Aquatics Center, hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping and
First Lady First lady is an unofficial title usually used for the wife, and occasionally used for the daughter or other female relative, of a non-monarchical A monarchy is a form of government in which a person, the monarch, is head of state fo ...
Peng Liyuan. For the occasion, the President and the other APEC leaders wore a modified version of the Mao suit, as part of the APEC tradition of the leaders wearing the host nation's traditional outfit. :On the morning of Tuesday, November 11, President Aquino and the other APEC leaders participated in the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting Retreat at the International Conference Center in Yanqi Lake, where he was given the chance to share the Philippines' views on advancing economic integration to promote economic growth, infrastructure development, and innovation, among others. After, the APEC leaders participated in a tree planting ceremony at the Summer Garden, outside the International Conference Center. After the ceremony, President Aquino met briefly with President Xi for a ten-minute discussion regarding the
territorial disputes A territorial dispute or boundary dispute is a disagreement over the possession or control of land between two or more political entities. Context and definitions Territorial disputes are often related to the possession of natural resources su ...
in the South China Sea, in which both presidents agreed to resolve the disputes in "constructive ways". In the afternoon, President Aquino and the other APEC leaders participated in the second session of the meeting, before attending a working lunch. In the evening, President Aquino departed Beijing and arrived at the
Naypyidaw International Airport Naypyidaw International Airport officially spelled Nay Pyi Taw , ( my, နေပြည်တော် အပြည်ပြည်ဆိုင်ရာ လေဆိပ်; previously known as Ela Airport), is located 16 kilometres (10 mi) southea ...
in Myanmar at around 11:05 pm
MST The Master of Studies or Master in Studies (M.St. or MSt; ) is a postgraduate degree at the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University of St Andrews, the Australian National University, University of Dublin and the University of Ne ...
. :On Wednesday, November 12, President Aquino first attended the opening ceremony of the 25th ASEAN Summit, before attending the plenary session at around 10:15 am MST, where the President was given the chance to share his views on political security and sociocultural development in the region. During the session, President Aquino also urged the finalization of a code of conduct to resolve the territorial disputes in the South China Sea. In the afternoon, President Aquino and the other ASEAN leaders participated in a series of summits with the leaders of neighboring nations to further enhance cooperation between ASEAN and the said neighboring nations, beginning with the 12th ASEAN–India Summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, followed by the 17th ASEAN–Japan Summit with Prime Minister Shinzō Abe, and concluding with the 40th ASEAN–Australia Commemorative Summit with Prime Minister Tony Abbott. In between, the ASEAN leaders also attended the 6th ASEAN–United Nations Summit with Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon Ban Ki-moon (; ; born 13 June 1944) is a South Korean politician and diplomat who served as the eighth secretary-general of the United Nations between 2007 and 2016. Prior to his appointment as secretary-general, Ban was his country's Minister ...
, where the Secretary-General urged ASEAN leaders to renew their commitment to addressing issues regarding peace and security. In the evening, the ASEAN leaders attended a gala dinner hosted by President Thein Sein and First Lady Khin Khin Win. :On Thursday, November 13, President Aquino attended the Ninth East Asia Summit Plenary Session, where the President was given the chance to share his views on issues regarding peace and stability, climate change, and the spread of pandemic diseases, as well as ways to further enhance Asia-Pacific economic integration. President Aquino and the other ASEAN leaders later participated in the 2nd ASEAN–United States Summit with President Barack Obama, aimed at enhancing cooperation between ASEAN and the United States to maintain regional peace and stability. After, the ASEAN leaders participated in the 17th ASEAN–China Summit with
Premier Premier is a title for the head of government in central governments, state governments and local governments of some countries. A second in command to a premier is designated as a deputy premier. A premier will normally be a head of governm ...
Li Keqiang Li Keqiang (born 1 July 1955) is a Chinese politician who is the outgoing premier of China. An economist by profession, Li is head of China's executive branch as well as one of the leading figures behind China's Financial and Economic Affai ...
, where discussions focused on reinforcing ASEAN–China relations despite the ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea between China and a number of ASEAN nations. President Aquino then met with Indian Prime Minister Modi, where the two presidents discussed mutual interests on the ASEAN–India Free Trade Agreement and the information technology and business process management sectors, as well as India's support over a peaceful resolution on the South China Sea territorial disputes. Later that afternoon, the ASEAN leaders joined Chinese Premier Li, Japanese Prime Minister Abe, and South Korean President Park Geun-hye at the 17th ASEAN Plus Three Summit to discuss enhancing the cooperation between ASEAN and China, Japan, and South Korea. The ASEAN leaders also attended ASEAN Leaders' Meeting with ASEAN Business Advisory Council, an opportunity for ASEAN nations to be given feedback from the council and guidance to achieve economic integration. In the evening, the ASEAN leaders attended the closing ceremony of the 25th ASEAN Summit. President Aquino then headed to the Naypyidaw International Airport, where he was greeted by Overseas Filipinos in Myanmar before departing for Manila. He departed Naypyidaw at around 8:30 pm MST. (November 18 to 19, 2014) :President Aquino travelled to Singapore for a two-day working visit that cost ₱11.6 million. He arrived at Changi Airport at 11:28 am SST. After arriving, President Aquino headed to the
Istana ''Istana'' is an Indonesian language, Indonesian and Malay language, Malay word meaning "palace". Notable Istanas *Istana Alam Shah, the official palace of the Sultan of Selangor *Istana Besar, 19th- and early 20th-century residence of the Sultan o ...
to meet with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and President Tony Tan Keng Yam, the latter of whom hosted a luncheon for President Aquino. In the evening, President Aquino attended '' The Economists "The World in 2015" Gala Dinner as a keynote speaker. During his interview with executive editor Daniel Franklin regarding his predictions for the following year, the President discussed his domestic and
foreign policies A state's foreign policy or external policy (as opposed to internal or domestic policy) is its objectives and activities in relation to its interactions with other states, unions, and other political entities, whether bilaterally or through mu ...
, his recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Philippines' interest in joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and the Philippine government's efforts in re-establishing damaged areas caused by Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda). The following day, President Aquino met with business executives at a roundtable discussion organized by the Philippine Trade and Investment Center and the Singapore Business Federation, where he urged executives to invest in the Philippines, citing a 6.3 percent growth in GDP from 2010 to 2014 as a form of conviction. He also met with executives from the
SIA Engineering Company SIA Engineering Company Limited (commonly abbreviated as SIAEC) () is a Singaporean company, specialising in aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul ( MRO) services in the Asia-Pacific. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Singapore Airline ...
, Temasek Holdings, Keppel Corporation, and
GIC Private Limited GIC Private Limited is a sovereign wealth fund in Singapore that manages its foreign reserves. Established by the Government of Singapore in 1981 as the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation, its mission is to preserve and enhance the ...
. In the afternoon, the President dined at a Jollibee branch at Lucky Plaza, where he was met by a crowd of Filipinos, before departing Singapore for Manila at around 3:10 pm SST. (December 11 to 12, 2014) :President Aquino travelled to South Korea to attend the two-day 25th
ASEAN–Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit The ASEAN Summit is a biannual meeting held by the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in relation to economic, political, security, and socio-cultural development of Southeast Asian countries. The league of ASEAN is cur ...
in Busan. He initially cancelled the trip in order to assist his country from the effects of Typhoon Hagupit (Ruby), but later decided to push through with the trip after being satisfied with the government's efforts and would instead monitor the situation from Busan. President Aquino arrived at
Gimhae Air Base Gimhae Air Base is a Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) base adjacent to Gimhae International Airport. Runway 18L/36R is used for military purposes only. Units The base is home to the ROKAF's 5th Tactical Airlift Wing (제5전술공수비행 ...
at around 1:40 pm KST. On the sidelines of the summit, the President met with President Park Geun-hye. According to Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Sonny Coloma, who accompanied him during the trip, President Aquino announced his intention to form a "comprehensive strategic partnership" that would further boost
Philippines–South Korea relations The Philippines–South Korea relations (; fil, Ugnayang Pilipinas at Timog Korea) refers to the bilateral relations between the Republic of the Philippines and the Republic of Korea. The Philippines has an embassy in Seoul, while South Korea has ...
during their bilateral meeting. The two presidents also discussed issues regarding regional security, education, and the safety of South Koreans in the Philippines. President Aquino also held a bilateral meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister
Najib Razak Dato' Sri Haji Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak ( ms, محمد نجيب بن عبد الرزاق, label= Jawi, script=arab, italic=unset, ; born 23 July 1953) is a Malaysian politician who served as the 6th prime minister of Malaysi ...
. After, the President joined President Park and the other nine ASEAN leaders in viewing a traditional Korean arts and crafts exhibit at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center, before attending a dinner and cultural performance hosted by President Park. The following day, at around 9:30 am KST, President Aquino attended the first Commemorative Summit session chaired by South Korea, which focused on the multilateral cooperation between the ASEAN countries and South Korea. At around 10:50 am KST, the President attended the second Commemorative Summit session chaired by, which focused on security cooperation, climate change, and
emergency management Emergency management or disaster management is the managerial function charged with creating the framework within which communities reduce vulnerability to hazards and cope with disasters. Emergency management, despite its name, does not actuall ...
. After the summit, President Aquino and the other ASEAN leaders attended a luncheon hosted by President Park. Before departing for Manila, President Aquino inspected one of the 12 KAI T-50 Golden Eagle aircraft that the Philippines had purchased from the Korea Aerospace Industries at the tarmac of Gimhae Air Base. The President departed Gimhae Air Base at around 5:20 pm KST.


2015

In 2015, President Aquino made 8 official visits. (April 26 to 28, 2015) :President Aquino attended the 26th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi. and (May 6 to 9, 2015) :In April 2015, Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman
Abigail Valte Abigail "Abi" dela Fuente Valte (born 23 December 1980) is the former Deputy Presidential Spokesman of Philippine President Benigno Aquino III. Education Valte earned a degree in A.B. Philosophy from De La Salle University in 2002. In 2003, she ...
announced that President Aquino would embark on a three-day state visit to Canada from May 7 to 9, 2015, accepting the invitation from Governor General David Johnston, along with a brief working visit to Chicago in the United States beforehand and a state visit to Japan in June. :On Wednesday, May 6, President Aquino arrived at the Chicago O'Hare International Airport at approximately 1:14 pm CT to begin his four-day North American trip. He then headed to the JW Marriott Chicago, where he was met by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who presented him with a
Chicago City Council The Chicago City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Chicago in Illinois. It consists of 50 alderpersons elected from 50 wards to serve four-year terms. The council is gaveled into session regularly, usually mont ...
Resolution. After, the President headed to the TransUnion headquarters to attend a
round table discussion Round table is a form of academic discussion. Participants agree on a specific topic to discuss and debate. Each person is given equal right to participate, as illustrated by the idea of a circular layout referred to in the term round table. Ro ...
with representatives from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the
US-ASEAN Business Council The US-ASEAN Business Council (also known as "US-ABC" or "USABC") is an advocacy group that aims to foster economic growth and trade ties between the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)'s ten member countries. I ...
, and the National Center for APEC. During the discussion, several executives of United States firms expressed interest in investing in the Philippines, praising the country's economic growth and development and the "competence and talent" of Filipino workers. In the evening, President Aquino met with the Filipino community in Chicago at the JW Marriott Chicago, where he also addressed an economic update on the Philippines, citing a 6.3 percent increase in GDP, a 479 percent increase in foreign investment from 2010 to 2014, and the country's ranking improvements in the World Bank Group's Ease of doing business index and the World Economic Forum's '' Global Competitiveness Report'', among others. :On Thursday, May 7, President Aquino departed Chicago in the morning and arrived at Macdonald–Cartier International Airport in Ottawa at approximately 12:10 pm EDT, beginning his four-day state visit to Canada. After his arrival, the President arrived at an official welcome ceremony with military honors on a landau driven by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police at Rideau Hall, where he was met by Governor General Johnston and his wife
Sharon Sharon ( he, שָׁרוֹן ''Šārôn'' "plain") is a given name as well as an Israeli surname. In English-speaking areas, Sharon is now predominantly a feminine given name. However, historically it was also used as a masculine given name. In I ...
. After the ceremony, President Aquino paid a courtesy call to Governor General Johnston inside Rideau Hall. During their meeting, Governor General Johnston praised President Aquino for his administration's efforts in contributing to the Philippines'
economic growth Economic growth can be defined as the increase or improvement in the inflation-adjusted market value of the goods and services produced by an economy in a financial year. Statisticians conventionally measure such growth as the percent rate of ...
, to which the President cited good governance, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, and backlog-clearing programs, while the President thanked Governor General Johnston for Canada's efforts in aiding the victims of
Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) Typhoon Haiyan, known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Yolanda, was one of the most powerful tropical cyclones ever recorded. On making landfall, Haiyan devastated portions of Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines. It is one of the ...
and their advocation for the Bangsamoro peace process. After the meeting, President Aquino participated in a ceremonial planting of a red spruce outside Rideau Hall, which is adjacent to the red maple planted by his mother, former President
Corazon Aquino Maria Corazon "Cory" Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino (; ; January 25, 1933 – August 1, 2009) was a Filipina politician who served as the 11th president of the Philippines from 1986 to 1992. She was the most prominent figure of the 1986 People P ...
, during her visit in 1989. In the evening, the Johnstons hosted a state dinner for President Aquino. :On Friday, May 8, President Aquino met with Prime Minister
Stephen Harper Stephen Joseph Harper (born April 30, 1959) is a Canadian politician who served as the 22nd prime minister of Canada from 2006 to 2015. Harper is the first and only prime minister to come from the modern-day Conservative Party of Canada, ...
at the Centre Block of Parliament Hill. At their bilateral meeting, the two heads of government discussed the regional developments on the
territorial disputes A territorial dispute or boundary dispute is a disagreement over the possession or control of land between two or more political entities. Context and definitions Territorial disputes are often related to the possession of natural resources su ...
in the South China Sea, the safety of the
Overseas Filipino Workers Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) is a term often used to refer to Filipino migrant workers, people with Filipino citizenship who reside in another country for a limited period of employment. The number of these workers was roughly 1.77 million be ...
in Canada, and trade between Canada and the Philippines. President Aquino and Prime Minister Harper witnessed the signing of several bilateral agreements on labor, trade, and development, before attending a joint press conference, followed by a tour of the Library of Parliament. Prime Minister Harper hosted a working luncheon for President Aquino, before the latter headed to Macdonald–Cartier International Airport to depart for Toronto. President Aquino arrived at Toronto Pearson International Airport at 2:28 pm EDT and headed to the Fairmont Royal York to attend a
round table The Round Table ( cy, y Ford Gron; kw, an Moos Krenn; br, an Daol Grenn; la, Mensa Rotunda) is King Arthur's famed table in the Arthurian legend, around which he and his knights congregate. As its name suggests, it has no head, implying that e ...
business meeting with the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, where opportunities for trade and investment between Canadian and Filipino businesses were discussed. Prime Minister Harper, who had travelled to Toronto, hosted a reception at Roy Thomson Hall for President Aquino to meet with over 2,000 members of the Filipino community in Canada. During his remarks, President Aquino addressed to the Filipino community a progress report on the economic growth of the Philippines, stating a 6.3 percent increase in GDP and 1.04 million jobs filled in 2014. With these statistics, he also added that the Philippines had transformed from "the sick man of Asia" to "the darling of Asia." In the evening, the President headed back to the Fairmont Royal York to meet with Justin Trudeau, leader of the Liberal Party, and Ontario
Premier Premier is a title for the head of government in central governments, state governments and local governments of some countries. A second in command to a premier is designated as a deputy premier. A premier will normally be a head of governm ...
Kathleen Wynne. He also held a coffee meeting with the Filipino media. :On Saturday, May 9, President Aquino departed Toronto for Vancouver, the final stop of his three-day state visit to Canada, as well as his four-day visit to North America. The President and his delegation arrived at Vancouver International Airport past noon, where he was welcomed by Minister of National Defence and Multiculturalism and Citizenship Jason Kenney and British Columbia
Attorney General In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general or attorney-general (sometimes abbreviated AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. The plural is attorneys general. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have exec ...
Suzanne Anton Suzanne Anton, (born May 31, 1952) is a Canadian politician and the former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of British Columbia. Elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the 2013 provincial election, Anton represent ...
. After arriving, President Aquino headed to the
Pan Pacific Vancouver Hotel Pan Pacific Vancouver Hotel is a hotel in Canada Place near Waterfront Station in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Heritage Horns The ten Heritage Horns have five facing north and five facing east on the roof of the Pan Pacific hotel. T ...
to meet with British Columbia
Premier Premier is a title for the head of government in central governments, state governments and local governments of some countries. A second in command to a premier is designated as a deputy premier. A premier will normally be a head of governm ...
Christy Clark, where they also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Philippine Labor and Employment Secretary
Rosalinda Baldoz Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz is a Filipina lawyer, civil servant, and labor arbiter. She served as Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) of the Philippines under the administration of President Benigno Aquino III. Profile Bald ...
and British Columbia International Trade Minister
Teresa Wat Teresa Wat (, born 1949 or 1950) is a Canadian politician who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the 2013 British Columbia general election, 2013 provincial election. She represents the electoral district of Richmond ...
, aimed at strengthening the employment abilities of Filipinos in British Columbia, as well as their protection. President Aquino also met with executives of the Aquilini Investment Group who had invested in
renewable energy Renewable energy is energy that is collected from renewable resources that are naturally replenished on a human timescale. It includes sources such as sunlight, wind, the movement of water, and geothermal heat. Although most renewable energy ...
in the Philippines, particularly Cebu. During their meeting, the Aquilini Investment Group also expressed interest in investing in the tourism and the agricultural sectors of the Philippines. Finally, the President met with the Filipino community at the Vancouver Convention Centre. In the evening, President Aquino and his delegation departed Vancouver International Airport for Manila. (June 2 to 5, 2015) :President Aquino travelled to Tokyo for a four-day state visit from June 2 to 5, 2015, aimed at promoting business deals with Japanese investors and seeking support from Japan to resolve the
territorial disputes A territorial dispute or boundary dispute is a disagreement over the possession or control of land between two or more political entities. Context and definitions Territorial disputes are often related to the possession of natural resources su ...
in the South China Sea. :On Tuesday, June 2, President Aquino arrived at Haneda Airport. After arriving, he headed to the Imperial Hotel to meet with Japanese businessmen, before meeting with the Filipino community at
Hotel Okura is a luxury hotel opened in 1962 in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. It is operated by Okura Hotels and was a member of The Leading Hotels of the World. The historic main wing was demolished in 2015, with a modern replacement on the site opened in 2019, re ...
. :On Wednesday, June 3, President Aquino was received by Emperor Akihito and
Empress An emperor (from la, imperator, via fro, empereor) is a monarch, and usually the sovereignty, sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), ...
Michiko Michiko is a Japanese given name, used for females. Although written romanized the same way, the Japanese language written forms (kanji, katakana, hiragana) can be different. Common forms include: * 美智子 — "beautiful wise child" * 美 ...
at the Imperial Palace. During their meeting, President Aquino was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum by Emperor Akihito, who in return was awarded the Grand Collar (''Supremo'') of the
Order of Lakandula The Order of Lakandula ( fil, Orden ni Lakandula) is one of the highest civilian Order (distinction), orders of the Philippines, established on September 19, 2003. It is Award, awarded for political and civic merit and in memory of King Lakandula ...
by President Aquino for bolstering the
Japan–Philippines relations Japan–Philippines relations (; ) span a period from before the 16th century to the present. According to a 2011 BBC World Service Poll, 84% of Filipinos view Japan's influence positively, with 12% expressing a negative view, making the Philippin ...
. President Aquino also attended the 21st International Conference on The Future of Asia organized by Nikkei 225 at Hotel Okura, where he delivered a keynote speech. During his keynote speech, President Aquino urged China to reconsider their land reclamation activities in the West Philippine Sea, as it breaches the conditions of the 2002 ASEAN–China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties, comparing China's actions to Nazi Germany's territorial expansion before World War II. Later that afternoon, President Aquino addressed a joint session of the
National Diet The is the national legislature of Japan. It is composed of a lower house, called the House of Representatives (Japan), House of Representatives (, ''Shūgiin''), and an upper house, the House of Councillors (Japan), House of Councillors (, ...
, seeking Japan's assistance to resolve the territorial disputes. In the evening, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko hosted a state dinner for President Aquino at the Imperial Palace. :On Thursday, June 4, President Aquino attended the Philippine Investment Forum at the Hotel New Otani, attended by over 1,000 Japanese businessmen, urging them to invest in information technology, infrastructure, and manufacturing in the Philippines. He then headed to the Akasaka Palace to meet with Prime Minister Shinzō Abe for a bilateral meeting, followed by a joint press conference and an official dinner in the evening. The two heads of government discussed the enhancement of the
strategic partnership A strategic partnership (also see strategic alliance) is a relationship between two commercial enterprises, usually formalized by one or more business contracts. A strategic partnership will usually fall short of a legal partnership entity, agency, ...
between Japan and the Philippines, as well as developments over the territorial disputes in the South China Sea. President Aquino also thanked Prime Minister Abe for Japan's efforts in aiding the victims of
Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) Typhoon Haiyan, known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Yolanda, was one of the most powerful tropical cyclones ever recorded. On making landfall, Haiyan devastated portions of Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines. It is one of the ...
and their support towards the Bangsamoro peace process. They then witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation for Healthcare, signed by the Philippine Department of Health and the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare to further enhance universal health care. :On Friday, June 5, President Aquino held a joint press conference with the Japan National Press Club, where he announced his intentions for a Visiting Forces Agreement with Japan in order for Japanese troops to assist in defense over the territorial disputes in the South China Sea. He was also met by Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko at the Imperial Hotel, before heading to Haneda Airport to depart Tokyo for Manila with ₱13.5 billion investment pledges from eleven companies and ₱136.9 billion of concessional loans for infrastructure projects. (November 20 to 22, 2015) :President Aquino attended the 27th ASEAN Summit and the Tenth
East Asia Summit The East Asia Summit (EAS) is a regional forum held annually by leaders of, initially, 16 countries in the East Asian, Southeast Asian, South Asian and Oceanian regions, based on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations#ASEAN Plus Three and A ...
in Kuala Lumpur, his last before stepping down from office. During the ASEAN Summit, President Aquino and the other ASEAN leaders announced the creation of the
ASEAN Economic Community ASEAN ( , ), officially the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is a political and economic union of 10 member states in Southeast Asia, which promotes intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic, political, security, milit ...
, an economic integration between ASEAN member states to begin on December 31, 2015. After the summit, the ASEAN leaders signed the ASEAN Convention on Trafficking in Persons (ACTIP) to address the issue of
human trafficking Human trafficking is the trade of humans for the purpose of forced labour, sexual slavery, or commercial sexual exploitation for the trafficker or others. This may encompass providing a spouse in the context of forced marriage, or the extrac ...
, especially within women and children. , and (November 29 to December 4, 2015) :During an interview at the APEC CEO Summit on November 16, President Aquino announced his participation in the
2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference The 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP 21 or CMP 11 was held in Paris, France, from 30 November to 12 December 2015. It was the 21st yearly session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the 1992 United Nations Framework Conve ...
in Paris, amidst the aftermath of the recent Paris attacks. On November 26, Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Maria Cleofe Natividad announced that President Aquino would also undertake a working visit to Rome, where he would meet with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and have an audience with Pope Francis in Vatican City to reciprocate the pope's visit to the Philippines the previous January. At the Climate Change Conference in Paris, President Aquino delivered a three-minute speech "that highlights Philippine response to the impact of climate change and campaign for the inclusion of human rights, the vulnerability of indigenous peoples and gender issues in the Paris agreement." :President Aquino arrived at the Paris–Le Bourget Airport on Sunday, November 29, at around 6:15 pm CET.


2016

In 2016, President Aquino made his last official visit. (February 15 to 17, 2016) :President Aquino attended the special United States-ASEAN Summit hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama from February 15 to 16 at the
Sunnylands Sunnylands, the former Annenberg Estate, located in Rancho Mirage, California, is a estate currently run by The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands, a not-for-profit organization. The property was owned by Walter and Leonore Annenberg ...
estate in Rancho Mirage, California, joining the other leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). According to a statement released by the White House, the summit aims to strengthen cooperation on "political, security and economic issues" between the United States and the
ASEAN member states ASEAN ( , ), officially the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is a political and economic union of 10 member states in Southeast Asia, which promotes intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic, political, security, military ...
under the United States-ASEAN strategic partnership signed in November 2015. Aquino is also expected to raise the issue on the territorial disputes in the South China Sea which the Philippines is a claimant along with Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam. On February 16, after participating in the summit, Aquino visited Los Angeles to address the
Los Angeles World Affairs Council The Los Angeles World Affairs Council & Town Hall (LAWACTH), the Los Angeles office within the national network of World Affairs Councils of America The World Affairs Councils of America is a network of 93 autonomous and nonpartisan councils acr ...
, which according to the council is regarding the "new defense agreement between Manila and Washington, security in East Asia, and the future for economic growth in the Philippines and its neighbors in Southeast Asia," at the InterContinental hotel in
Century City Century City is a 176-acre (71.2 ha) neighborhood and business district in Los Angeles, California. Located on the Westside to the south of Santa Monica Boulevard around 10 miles (16 km) west of Downtown Los Angeles, Century City is one of ...
. On February 17, President Aquino received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the Loyola Marymount University "in recognition of his dedication to his country, his integrity, and his embodiment of a Jesuit education." He also met with Los Angeles-based investors and the Filipino-American community in Los Angeles, before departing for Manila.


Multilateral meetings


See also

*
Foreign relations of the Philippines Foreign relations of the Philippines are administered by the President of the Philippines and the Department of Foreign Affairs (Philippines), Department of Foreign Affairs. Philippine international affairs are influenced by ties to its South ...
* List of international presidential trips made by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo * List of international presidential trips made by Rodrigo Duterte * List of international presidential trips made by Bongbong Marcos


References


External links


Presidential Trips: The full list
– List of presidential trips by the '' Official Gazette'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Presidential trips made by Benigno Aquino III Presidency of Benigno Aquino III 21st century-related lists Aquino, Benigno III Aquino III, Benigno Aquino, Benigno III