Putting the past behind

Looking to the future: Marcos Jr and Biden meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. — AP

US President Joe Biden pledged in his first face-to-face meeting with new Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to work to strengthen relations with the Pacific nation after what he said had been some “rocky times” in the past.

Meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, the leaders discussed tensions in the South China Sea, the long-standing security relationship between the United States and the Philippines, stresses to the global economy and food security caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and other issues.