Visiting Deputy State Secretary Wendy Sherman on Thursday met with President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to push for a stronger economic partnership and alliance between the Philippines and the United States.

State Department spokesperson Ned Price said the two agreed to strengthen the two countries’ economies as they underscored the importance of public-private partnerships, clean energy, and the digital economy.

Among others, they discussed opportunities to deepen the two nations’ alliance.

“The Deputy Secretary and the President-Elect highlighted the importance of the US-Philippine Alliance to security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and the world and the importance of fostering respect for human rights and rule of law in the Philippines,” Price said.

“They discussed opportunities for our two nations to deepen our Alliance and friendship and seize new opportunities to deliver for our people in the years to come,” he added.

Joining Sherman and Marcos in the meeting are his advisors, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez, incoming Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez and Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Theresa Lazaro.

Sherman is the first high-ranking foreign government official to personally meet with Marcos since his landslide win in the 2022 Philippine elections. (PNA)