Obama's visit to strengthen Phl-US ties: official

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The visit of US President Barack Obama to the Philippines will further strengthen the alliance between the two countries, a senior government official said today.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said Philippine President Benigno Aquino III will meet with Obama to discuss ways to expand security and economic ties between the two countries. The United States is a long-time ally of the Philippines.

The White House confirmed on Wednesday that Obama will visit the Philippines, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Malaysia in late April.

Washington said the trip is part of the "ongoing commitment to increase US diplomatic, economic and security engagement with countries in the Asia-Pacific region."

Obama had to cancel a scheduled trip to Asia in October due to a 16-day government shutdown caused by a budget impasse in Congress.