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
president of the Philippines The president of the Philippines ( fil, Pangulo ng Pilipinas, sometimes referred to as ''Presidente ng Pilipinas'') is the head of state, head of government and chief executive of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of t ...
. During his presidency, which began with his inauguration on June 30, 2010 and ended on June 30, 2016,
Benigno Aquino III Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III (; February 8, 1960 – June 24, 2021), also known as Noynoy Aquino and colloquially as PNoy, was a Filipino politician who served as the 15th president of the Philippines from 2010 to 2016. The son of ...
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,
Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...
,
Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
,
Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
,
Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
, Laos,
New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
,
Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eig ...
,
Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...
, Switzerland,
Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...
,
United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
,
Vatican City Vatican City (), officially the Vatican City State ( it, Stato della Città del Vaticano; la, Status Civitatis Vaticanae),—' * german: Vatikanstadt, cf. '—' (in Austria: ') * pl, Miasto Watykańskie, cf. '—' * pt, Cidade do Vati ...
, and
Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...
* Two visits to
Cambodia Cambodia (; also Kampuchea ; km, កម្ពុជា, UNGEGN: ), officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochinese Peninsula in Southeast Asia, spanning an area of , bordered by Thailan ...
, China,
France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...
,
Singapore Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, bor ...
, and
South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its eas ...
* Three visits to
Malaysia Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...
and Myanmar (Burma) * Four visits to
Brunei Brunei ( , ), formally Brunei Darussalam ( ms, Negara Brunei Darussalam, Jawi: , ), is a country located on the north coast of the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. Apart from its South China Sea coast, it is completely surrounded by t ...
* Five visits to
Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
* Six visits to Japan * Seven visits to the
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...


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 The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA or GA; french: link=no, Assemblée générale, AG) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN), serving as the main deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ of the UN. Curr ...
and met with US President
Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the ...
and leaders of several business sectors in New York City and
San Francisco, California San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17th ...
. The President talked at the UNGA regarding the status of the Philippine efforts to achieve the UN
Millennium Development Goals The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were eight international development goals for the year 2015 that had been established following the Millennium Summit of the United Nations in 2000, following the adoption of the United Nations Millenn ...
(MDGs). He also met with members of the Filipino-American communities in both cities. (October 26 to 30, 2010) :President Aquino flew to
Hanoi Hanoi or Ha Noi ( or ; vi, Hà Nội ) is the capital and second-largest city of Vietnam. It covers an area of . It consists of 12 urban districts, one district-leveled town and 17 rural districts. Located within the Red River Delta, Hanoi is ...
for a two-day State Visit following the personal invitation of Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet. The President met with the Vietnamese President for bilateral talks, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung 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 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. In addition, it serves ...
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 is a Japanese politician who was Prime Minister of Japan and President of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) from June 2010 to September 2011. Kan was the first Prime Minister since the resignation of Junichiro Koizumi in 2006 to serve for ...
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 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 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, militar ...
member nations. He called on Singaporean President S.R. Nathan and met Prime Minister
Lee Hsien Loong Lee Hsien Loong (; born 10 February 1952) is a Singaporean politician and former brigadier-general who has been serving as Prime Minister of Singapore and Secretary-General of the People's Action Party since 2004. He has been the Member of Par ...
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,
Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estimated populati ...
. 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'' 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 This article includes a list of successive Islamic states and Muslim dynasties beginning with the time of the Islamic prophet Muhammad (570–632 CE) and the early Muslim conquests that spread Islam outside of the Arabian Peninsula, and continuin ...
. The President will be received by His Royal Highness The Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah 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. 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, 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 Wu Bangguo and Premier
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 polic ...
. 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 Xiamen ( , ; ), also known as Amoy (, from Hokkien pronunciation ), is a sub-provincial city in southeastern Fujian, People's Republic of China, beside the Taiwan Strait. It is divided into six districts: Huli, Siming, Jimei, Tong'an ...
, Fujian, where he met with local officials before visiting Hongjian Village, the ancestral seat of the Cojuangco Family. 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 and the Filipino Community from the
District of Columbia ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
(DC),
Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
and
Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...
. 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 Territorial disputes in the South China Sea involve conflicting island and maritime claims in the region by several sovereign states, namely Brunei, the People's Republic of China (PRC), Taiwan (Republic of China/ROC), Indonesia, Malaysia, Ph ...
, 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 is a Japanese politician who was Prime Minister of Japan from 2011 to 2012. He was a member of the Democratic Party, and a member of the House of Representatives (lower house) in the Diet (national legislature). He was named to succeed Naoto ...
. 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 in
Honolulu Honolulu (; ) is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, which is in the Pacific Ocean. It is an unincorporated county seat of the consolidated City and County of Honolulu, situated along the southeast coast of the island ...
. (November 17 to 19, 2011) :President Aquino participates at the 19th ASEAN Summit in Bali.


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. 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 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. U.S President
Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the ...
welcomed President Aquino to the
White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., and has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in ...
. 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 in
Vladivostok Vladivostok ( rus, Владивосто́к, a=Владивосток.ogg, p=vɫədʲɪvɐˈstok) is the largest city and the administrative center of Primorsky Krai, Russia. The city is located around the Golden Horn Bay on the Sea of Japan, c ...
. (September 23, 2012) :President Aquino attended the wedding of the daughter of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, 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 Sir John Phillip Key (born 9 August 1961) is a New Zealand retired politician who served as the 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 2008 to 2016 and as Leader of the New Zealand National Party from 2006 to 2016. After resigning from bo ...
, Governor-General
Quentin Bryce Dame Quentin Alice Louise Bryce, (née Strachan; born 23 December 1942) is an Australian academic who served as the 25th governor-general of Australia from 2008 to 2014. She is the first woman to have held the position, and was previously the ...
and Prime Minister Julia Gillard. (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 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. In addition, it serves ...
in Phnom Penh.


2013

In 2013, President Aquino made 7 official visits. (January 24 to 27, 2013) :President Aquino attended the 2013
World Economic Forum The World Economic Forum (WEF) is an international non-governmental and lobbying organisation based in Cologny, canton of Geneva, Switzerland. It was founded on 24 January 1971 by German engineer and economist Klaus Schwab. The foundation, ...
in Davos. (April 24 to 25, 2013) :President Aquino attended the 22nd
ASEAN 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. In addition, it serves ...
in
Bandar Seri Begawan Bandar Seri Begawan (BSB; Jawi: بندر سري بڬاوان; ) is the capital city of Brunei. It is officially a municipal area () with an area of and an estimated population of 100,700 as of 2007. It is part of Brunei-Muara District, the s ...
. (June 7 to 8, 2013) President Aquino attended the
World Economic Forum The World Economic Forum (WEF) is an international non-governmental and lobbying organisation based in Cologny, canton of Geneva, Switzerland. It was founded on 24 January 1971 by German engineer and economist Klaus Schwab. The foundation, ...
on East Asia in
Naypyidaw Naypyidaw, officially spelled Nay Pyi Taw (; ), is the capital and third-largest city of Myanmar. The city is located at the centre of the Naypyidaw Union Territory. It is unusual among Myanmar's cities, as it is an entirely planned city o ...
. and (October 6 to 10, 2013) :President Aquino attended the
APEC Indonesia 2013 The APEC Indonesia 2013 was the 25th annual gathering of APEC leaders. It was held in Bali on 5–7 October 2013. The summit also saw the revival of wearing national dress, which had been explicitly discontinued by US President Barack Obama two ye ...
in Bali, the 23rd
ASEAN 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. In addition, it serves ...
and the 8th East Asia Summit in
Bandar Seri Begawan Bandar Seri Begawan (BSB; Jawi: بندر سري بڬاوان; ) is the capital city of Brunei. It is officially a municipal area () with an area of and an estimated population of 100,700 as of 2007. It is part of Brunei-Muara District, the s ...
. (October 17 to 18, 2013) :State visit, the President met with President
Park Geun-hye Park Geun-hye (; ; often in English ; born 2 February 1952) is a South Korean politician who served as the 11th president of South Korea from 2013 to 2017, until she was impeached and convicted on related corruption charges. Park was the fi ...
. (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 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 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. In addition, it serves ...
in
Naypyidaw Naypyidaw, officially spelled Nay Pyi Taw (; ), is the capital and third-largest city of Myanmar. The city is located at the centre of the Naypyidaw Union Territory. It is unusual among Myanmar's cities, as it is an entirely planned city o ...
. (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 Shinzo Abe ( ; ja, 安倍 晋三, Hepburn: , ; 21 September 1954 – 8 July 2022) was a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan and President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2012 to 20 ...
at his
official residence An official residence is the residence of a head of state, head of government, governor, religious leader, leaders of international organizations, or other senior figure. It may be the same place where they conduct their work-related functions. ...
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 in the
South China Sea The South China Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean. It is bounded in the north by the shores of South China (hence the name), in the west by the Indochinese Peninsula, in the east by the islands of Taiwan and northwestern Phi ...
, where the Prime Minister had agreed to urge the
reinterpretation Musical phrasing is the method by which a musician shapes a sequence of notes in a passage of music to allow expression, much like when speaking English a phrase may be written identically but may be spoken differently, and is named for the in ...
of Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution which would allow the Japan Self-Defense Forces to assist in defending Japan's allies, to which the President expressed support. He later travelled to Hiroshima to address the "Consolidation for Peace for Mindanao" conference organized by the
Japan International Cooperation Agency The is a governmental agency that delivers the bulk of Official Development Assistance (ODA) for the government of Japan. It is chartered with assisting economic and social growth in developing countries, and the promotion of international co ...
and the Research and Education for Peace council from the
Universiti Sains Malaysia Universiti Sains Malaysia ( 'Science University of Malaysia'; abbreviation, abbreviated as USM) is a public research university in Malaysia. Founded on 1 June 1969 as a statutory body with its own constitution, it is among the oldest institute ...
. 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 that occurred during
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
nearly seventy years prior. After addressing the conference, the President visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, where he laid a wreath at the Memorial Cenotaph and toured the
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum is a museum located in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, in central Hiroshima, Japan, dedicated to documenting the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in World War II. The museum was established in August 1955 with the ...
, before departing for Manila later that evening. , , , and (September 14 to 24, 2014) :On his European trip, President Aquino travelled to
Madrid Madrid ( , ) is the capital and most populous city of Spain. The city has almost 3.4 million inhabitants and a Madrid metropolitan area, metropolitan area population of approximately 6.7 million. It is the Largest cities of the Europ ...
(September 14–15),
Brussels Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...
(September 15–17),
Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), ma ...
(September 17–19), and
Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and List of cities in Germany by population, largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's List of cities in the European Union by population within ci ...
(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 Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
(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 Secretary is a title often used in organizations to indicate a person having a certain amount of authority, power, or importance in the organization. Secretaries announce important events and communicate to the organization. The term is derived ...
Ban Ki-moon and U.S. President
Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the ...
. :On Sunday, September 14, President Aquino and his delegation arrived at
Torrejón Air Base Torrejón Air Base (Base Aérea de Torrejón de Ardoz) is both a major Spanish Air and Space Force base and the co-located Madrid–Torrejón Airport, a secondary civilian airport for the city and metropolitan area of Madrid, east-northeast of t ...
in Madrid at approximately 7:22 am CEST. He met with former Prime Minister José María Aznar, 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, replicating the
Rizal Monument The Rizal Monument (original title: ''Motto Stella''; Latin: "guiding star") is a memorial in Rizal Park in Manila, Philippines built to commemorate the executed Filipino nationalist, José Rizal. The monument consists of a standing bronze sculpt ...
in Manila. He also addressed the Filipino community in Spain at the Colegio Nuestra Señora de las Maravillas. After, President Aquino held a series of business meetings with seven Spanish firms, namely Acciona,
Abengoa Abengoa, S.A. was a Spanish multinational company in the green infrastructure, energy and water sectors. The company was founded in 1941 by Javier Benjumea Puigcerver and José Manuel Abaurre Fernández-Pasalagua, and was based in Seville, Sp ...
,
Indra Sistemas Indra Sistemas, S.A. () is a Spanish information technology and defense systems company. Indra is listed on the Bolsa de Madrid and is a constituent of the IBEX 35 index. Indra is organized around three business areas: information technologies ...
,
Globalvia Globalvia is a Spanish multinational transport infrastructure company that operates in 11 countries across three continents. In June 2022, Globalvia in partnership with Kinetic Group launched a take over bid for the British bus and rail operator ...
,
Grupo ACS ACS, Actividades de Construcción y Servicios, S.A. () is a Spanish company dedicated to civil and engineering construction, all types services and telecommunications. It is one of the leading construction companies in the world, with projects ...
, INECO, and Calidad Pascual. 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 The Palace of Moncloa or Moncloa Palace ( es, Palacio de la Moncloa) is the official residence and workplace of the Prime Minister of Spain. It is located in Puerta de Hierro Avenue, in the Moncloa-Aravaca district in Madrid. It has been the off ...
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 in the
South China Sea The South China Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean. It is bounded in the north by the shores of South China (hence the name), in the west by the Indochinese Peninsula, in the east by the islands of Taiwan and northwestern Phi ...
, 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 The Zamboanga City crisis ( Filipino: ''Krisis sa Zamboanga;'' Chavacano: ''Crisis na Zamboanga'') or Zamboanga Siege was an armed conflict in Zamboanga City, Philippines between the government forces of the Philippines and Moro rebels from ...
, 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 aff ...
. The two heads of government also discussed efforts to cease illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and a bilateral air transport agreement to allow non-stop flights between the two countries. President Aquino then headed to the
Palace of Zarzuela The Zarzuela Palace ( es, Palacio de la Zarzuela ) is the residence and working offices of the reigning monarch of Spain (King Felipe VI), although the official residence of the Spanish royal family is the Royal Palace of Madrid. The Zarzuela Pa ...
to meet with King Felipe VI. 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 headquarters of the
European Commission The European Commission (EC) is the executive of the European Union (EU). It operates as a cabinet government, with 27 members of the Commission (informally known as "Commissioners") headed by a President. It includes an administrative body ...
, to meet with European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and seek support from the
European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been de ...
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 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 The Royal Palace of Brussels (french: Palais royal de Bruxelles, , nl, Koninklijk Paleis van Brussel , german: Königlicher Palast von Brüssel) is the official palace of the King and Queen of the Belgians in the centre of the nation's capita ...
. 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 evening, President Aquino met with around 800 members of the Filipino communities in
Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...
and Luxembourg at the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula. :On Tuesday, September 16, President Aquino met with European Council President
Herman Van Rompuy Herman Achille, Count Van Rompuy (; born 31 October 1947) is a Belgian politician, who served as the prime minister of Belgium from 2008 to 2009 and then as the first permanent president of the European Council from 2009 to 2014. A politicia ...
to discuss the cooperation between the Philippines and the European Union with the signing of the
Partnership and Cooperation Agreement A European Union Association Agreement or simply Association Agreement (AA) is a treaty between the European Union (EU), its Member States and a non-EU country that creates a framework for co-operation between them. Areas frequently covered by su ...
, 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 Elio Di Rupo (; born 18 July 1951) is a Belgian politician who has served as the minister-president of Wallonia since 2019. He is affiliated with the Socialist Party. Di Rupo previously served as the prime minister of Belgium from 6 December 201 ...
at the Prime Minister's
official residence An official residence is the residence of a head of state, head of government, governor, religious leader, leaders of international organizations, or other senior figure. It may be the same place where they conduct their work-related functions. ...
in
Rue de la Loi The () or ( Dutch), meaning "Law Street", is a major street running through central and eastern Brussels, Belgium, which is famous due to the presence of several notable Belgian and European Union (EU) governmental buildings. The road runs fr ...
, 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 Eurochambres is thAssociation of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry The association is one of the largest business representative organisations in Brussels, representing over 20 million businesses in Europe through 45 members (43 national a ...
and Friends of Europe, 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, and Asia House. In the evening, President Aquino headed to the Château of Val-Duchesse 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 at around 10:05 am CEST. President Aquino's visit to France, the first of a Philippine President since President Fidel V. Ramos'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 under the Arc de Triomphe. President Aquino then headed to the Élysée Palace to meet with President François Hollande. During their bilateral meeting, the two presidents discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation and efforts to alleviate
climate change In common usage, climate change describes global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to ...
. 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 Airbus SE (; ; ; ) is a European multinational aerospace corporation. Airbus designs, manufactures and sells civil and military aerospace products worldwide and manufactures aircraft throughout the world. The company has three divisions: ' ...
,
Schneider Electric Schneider Electric SE is a French multinational company that specializes in digital automation and energy management. It addresses homes, buildings, data centers, infrastructure and industries, by combining energy technologies, real-time automatio ...
, and Teleperformance. He later met with Prime Minister
Manuel Valls Manuel Carlos Valls Galfetti (, , ; born 13 August 1962) is a French-Spanish politician who has served as a Barcelona city councillor from 2019 to 2021. He served as Prime Minister of France from 2014 until 2016 under president François Hol ...
at
Hôtel Matignon The Hôtel Matignon or Hôtel de Matignon () is the official residence of the Prime Minister of France. It is located in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, at 57 Rue de Varenne. "Matignon" is often used as a metonym for the governmental action o ...
to discuss the Filipino community in France and their contributions to the French economy. 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 The InterContinental Paris le Grand is a historic luxury hotel in Paris, France, which opened in 1862. History Le Grand Hôtel was built by the wealthy brothers Isaac & Émile Pereire and designed by Alfred Armand, who had previously designed ...
. In his speech, he urged French businesses to invest in the Philippines, saying that the current state of the Philippine economy 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 Ayala Corporation (Spanish: ''Corporación Ayala'', formerly ''Ayala y Compañía'' (Ayala & Company)) is the publicly listed holding company for the diversified interests of the Ayala Group. Founded in the Philippines by Domingo Róxas and A ...
, AlstomBouygues, and the Egis Group to discuss their expansion plans in the Philippines, having worked on the
South Extension South Extension is a neighbourhood of South Delhi, India. It is also described as a premier shopping destination. Situated on the Ring Road, Delhi, just east of All India Institute of Medical Sciencesbr>ref name=":0" /> The colony is divided in ...
of the
Manila Light Rail Transit System Line 1 The Light Rail Transit Line 1, commonly referred to as LRT Line 1 or LRT-1, is a light rapid transit system line in Metro Manila, Philippines, operated by Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) and owned by the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRT ...
. President Aquino later toured the European Headquarters of
Dassault Systèmes Dassault Systèmes SE () (abbreviated 3DS) is a French software corporation which develops software for 3D product design, simulation, manufacturing and other 3D related products. Founded in 1981, it is headquartered in Vélizy-Villacoublay, F ...
in
Vélizy-Villacoublay Vélizy-Villacoublay () is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France in north-central France. It is located in the south-western suburbs of Paris from the center and east of Versailles. Its inhabitants are called Véliziens. ...
. In the evening, President Aquino addressed a forum organized by the Institut français des relations internationales. The President also toured the
Louvre The Louvre ( ), or the Louvre Museum ( ), is the world's most-visited museum, and an historic landmark in Paris, France. It is the home of some of the best-known works of art, including the ''Mona Lisa'' and the ''Venus de Milo''. A central l ...
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 Berlin Tegel "Otto Lilienthal" Airport (german: link=no, Flughafen Berlin-Tegel „Otto Lilienthal“) was the primary international airport of Berlin, the federal capital of Germany. The airport was named after aviation pioneer Otto Lilienth ...
at around 10:45 am CEST. From there, the President travelled to the German Chancellery to meet with Chancellor
Angela Merkel Angela Dorothea Merkel (; ; born 17 July 1954) is a German former politician and scientist who served as Chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021. A member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), she previously served as Leader of the Opp ...
, 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 Welfare, or commonly social welfare, is a type of government support intended to ensure that members of a society can meet basic human needs such as food and shelter. Social security may either be synonymous with welfare, or refer specifical ...
, 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 Joachim Wilhelm Gauck (; born 24 January 1940) is a German politician and civil rights activist who served as President of Germany from 2012 to 2017. A former Lutheran pastor, he came to prominence as an anti-communist civil rights activist in E ...
. Later that afternoon, President Aquino met with officials from
SAP SE Sap is a fluid transported in xylem cells (vessel elements or tracheids) or phloem sieve tube elements of a plant. These cells transport water and nutrients throughout the plant. Sap is distinct from latex, resin, or cell sap; it is a sepa ...
, 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 and met with officials from
Knauf Knauf Gips KG is a multinational, family-owned company based in Iphofen, Germany, well known for drywall gypsum boards, founded in 1932. The company is a producer of building materials and construction systems comprising construction materials f ...
,
Investor AB Investor AB is a Swedish investment and ''de facto'' conglomerate holding company. It was founded in 1916 and is still controlled by the Wallenberg family through their Foundation Asset Management company FAM. The company owns a controlling st ...
,
Saab Group Saab AB (originally , later just SAAB and Saab Group) is a Swedish aerospace and defence company, founded in 1937. Headquartered in Stockholm, the development and the manufacturing is undertaken in Linköping. Saab produced automobiles from 194 ...
, and Stihl, as well as former Federal Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy
Michael Glos Michael Glos (born 14 December 1944) is a German politician of the Christian Social Union (CSU) who served as Minister for Economics and Technology in the government of Chancellor Angela Merkel from 22 November 2005 until 10 February 2009. Ea ...
. 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 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 and the Berlin Wall. 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 of his father, former Senator
Benigno Aquino Jr. Benigno "Ninoy" Simeon Aquino Jr., (; November 27, 1932 – August 21, 1983) was a Filipino politician who served as a senator of the Philippines (1967–1972) and governor of the province of Tarlac. Aquino was the husband of Corazon Aqui ...
, in 1983 upon returning from exile in Boston. :On Sunday, September 21, President Aquino first met with family friends for a private lunch. In the afternoon, he visited Boston College where he celebrated
Mass Mass is an intrinsic property of a body. It was traditionally believed to be related to the quantity of matter in a physical body, until the discovery of the atom and particle physics. It was found that different atoms and different eleme ...
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 Representative may refer to: Politics * Representative democracy, type of democracy in which elected officials represent a group of people * House of Representatives, legislative body in various countries or sub-national entities * Legislator, som ...
Joseph P. Kennedy III at a local pizzeria in 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 on his program '' Here and Now'' on
WBUR-FM WBUR-FM (90.9 FM) is a public radio station located in Boston, Massachusetts, owned by Boston University. It is the largest of three NPR member stations in Boston, along with WGBH and WUMB-FM and produces several nationally distributed progra ...
, where he was asked on his response to climate change, ahead of the United Nations Climate Summit, and the threat of the
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant An Islamic state is a state that has a form of government based on Islamic law (sharia). As a term, it has been used to describe various historical polities and theories of governance in the Islamic world. As a translation of the Arabic term ...
. In the evening, President Aquino delivered a policy speech at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at
Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of high ...
, where he discussed how the school's teachings shaped the skills of many Filipino politicians in his
administration Administration may refer to: Management of organizations * Management, the act of directing people towards accomplishing a goal ** Administrative Assistant, traditionally known as a Secretary, or also known as an administrative officer, admini ...
, including several members of his Cabinet, to work towards redeveloping the Philippines from the effects of former President Ferdinand Marcos's
administration Administration may refer to: Management of organizations * Management, the act of directing people towards accomplishing a goal ** Administrative Assistant, traditionally known as a Secretary, or also known as an administrative officer, admini ...
with the declaration of
martial law Martial law is the imposition of direct military control of normal civil functions or suspension of civil law by a government, especially in response to an emergency where civil forces are overwhelmed, or in an occupied territory. Use Marti ...
to the
administration Administration may refer to: Management of organizations * Management, the act of directing people towards accomplishing a goal ** Administrative Assistant, traditionally known as a Secretary, or also known as an administrative officer, admini ...
of his predecessor Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, saying: "Like JFK, Ninoy, and Cory, 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 at approximately 8:27 pm EDT, where he was greeted by Philippine Ambassador to the United Nations Libran N. Cabactulan. :On the morning of Tuesday, September 23, President Aquino headed to the
United Nations Headquarters zh, 联合国总部大楼french: Siège des Nations uniesrussian: Штаб-квартира Организации Объединённых Наций es, Sede de las Naciones Unidas , image = Midtown Manhattan Skyline 004.jpg , im ...
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 A typhoon is a mature tropical cyclone that develops between 180° and 100°E in the Northern Hemisphere. This region is referred to as the Northwestern Pacific Basin, and is the most active tropical cyclone basin on Earth, accounting for a ...
, in combating climate change through funding and the provision of technology, saying: "We
he Philippines He or HE may refer to: Language * He (pronoun), an English pronoun * He (kana), the romanization of the Japanese kana へ * He (letter), the fifth letter of many Semitic alphabets * He (Cyrillic), a letter of the Cyrillic script called ''He'' ...
have 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 United States Chamber of Commerce (USCC) is the largest lobbying group in the United States, representing over three million businesses and organizations. The group was founded in April 1912 out of local chambers of commerce at the urgin ...
, the US-ASEAN Business Council, 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 at the Low Memorial Library of
Columbia University 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 Manhatt ...
, 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 Lee Carroll Bollinger (born April 30, 1946) is an American lawyer and educator who is serving as the 19th and current president of Columbia University, where he is also the Seth Low Professor of the University and a faculty member of Columbia La ...
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 at approximately 9:38 am PDT. In San Francisco, President Aquino held business meetings with senior officials from Caesars Entertainment Corporation, International Development, and Wells Fargo. Outside the Wells Fargo headquarters on
Haight Street Haight Street () is the principal street in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district, also known as the Upper Haight due to its elevation. The street stretches from Market Street, through the Lower Haight neighborhood, to Stanyan Street in the U ...
, 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 Nusa Dua is a resort area built in the 1970s in the southern part of Bali, Indonesia. Known as an enclave of large five-star resorts, it covers 350 hectares of land and encloses more than 20 resorts. It is located 22 kilometers from Denpasar, t ...
, Bali. He, along with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, 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, 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 (November 9–11) and
Naypyidaw Naypyidaw, officially spelled Nay Pyi Taw (; ), is the capital and third-largest city of Myanmar. The city is located at the centre of the Naypyidaw Union Territory. It is unusual among Myanmar's cities, as it is an entirely planned city o ...
to attend the 25th
ASEAN 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. In addition, it serves ...
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 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 The China National Convention Center, previously known as the Olympic Green Convention Center () is a convention center located in the Olympic Green in Beijing. History It was designed by RMJM and was originally used for the 2008 Summer O ...
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 at the Philippine embassy in Beijing, where the two presidents developed an agenda for a strategic partnership that would improve economic and social ties. In the evening, the President met with
Moody's Corporation Moody's Corporation, often referred to as Moody's, is an American business and financial services company. It is the holding company for Moody's Investors Service (MIS), an American credit rating agency, and Moody's Analytics (MA), an American ...
CEO Raymond W. McDaniel Jr., where they discussed efforts on preventing the Ebola virus epidemic 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 Sanofi S.A. is a French multinational pharmaceutical and healthcare company headquartered in Paris, France. Originally, the corporation was established in 1973 and merged with Synthélabo in 1999 to form Sanofi-Synthélabo. In 2004, Sanofi-Syn ...
and Johnson & Johnson. :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, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, New Zealand Prime Minister
John Key Sir John Phillip Key (born 9 August 1961) is a New Zealand retired politician who served as the 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 2008 to 2016 and as Leader of the New Zealand National Party from 2006 to 2016. After resigning from bo ...
, and Papuan Prime Minister
Peter O'Neill Peter Charles Paire O'Neill (born 13 February 1965) is a Papua New Guinean politician who served as the seventh Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 2011 to 2019. From 2002 until the present he served as Member of Parliament for Ialibu-Pan ...
. 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. 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 Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) or small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are businesses whose personnel and revenue numbers fall below certain limits. The abbreviation "SME" is used by international organizations such as the World Bank ...
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 A peace process is the set of sociopolitical negotiations, agreements and actions that aim to solve a specific armed conflict. Definitions Prior to an armed conflict occurring, peace processes can include the prevention of an intra-state or in ...
with
Bangsamoro ar, منطقة بانجسامورو ذاتية الحكم فى مسلمى مينداناو , native_name = , settlement_type = Autonomous region , anthem = Bangsamoro Hymn , image_skyline ...
. 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 The National Aquatics Centre (), and colloquially known as the Water Cube () and the Ice Cube (), is an aquatics center at the Olympic Green in Beijing, China. The facility was originally constructed to host the aquatics competitions at the 2 ...
, hosted by Chinese President
Xi Jinping Xi Jinping ( ; ; ; born 15 June 1953) is a Chinese politician who has served as the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), and thus as the paramount leader of China, ...
and First Lady
Peng Liyuan Peng Liyuan (; born 20 November 1962) is a Chinese soprano and contemporary folk singer and the spouse of Xi Jinping, current General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and President of the People's Republic of China. Peng gained populari ...
. For the occasion, the President and the other APEC leaders wore a modified version of the
Mao suit The modern Chinese tunic suit is a style of male attire originally known in China as the Zhongshan suit () after the republican leader Sun Yat-sen (Sun Zhongshan). Sun Yat-sen introduced the style shortly after the founding of the Republic of ...
, 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 in the
South China Sea The South China Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean. It is bounded in the north by the shores of South China (hence the name), in the west by the Indochinese Peninsula, in the east by the islands of Taiwan and northwestern Phi ...
, 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. :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 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, militar ...
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 Narendra Damodardas Modi (; born 17 September 1950) is an Indian politician serving as the 14th and current Prime Minister of India since 2014. Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014 and is the Member of Parliament fro ...
, followed by the 17th ASEAN–Japan Summit with Prime Minister
Shinzō Abe Shinzo Abe ( ; ja, 安倍 晋三, Hepburn: , ; 21 September 1954 – 8 July 2022) was a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan and President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2012 to 20 ...
, and concluding with the 40th ASEAN–Australia Commemorative Summit with Prime Minister
Tony Abbott Anthony John Abbott (; born 4 November 1957) is a former Australian politician who served as the 28th prime minister of Australia from 2013 to 2015. He held office as the leader of the Liberal Party of Australia. Abbott was born in Londo ...
. In between, the ASEAN leaders also attended the 6th ASEAN–United Nations Summit with
Secretary-General Secretary is a title often used in organizations to indicate a person having a certain amount of authority, power, or importance in the organization. Secretaries announce important events and communicate to the organization. The term is derived ...
Ban Ki-moon, 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 Thein Sein ( my, သိန်းစိန်; IPA: ; born 20 April 1944) is a Burmese politician and retired general in the Myanmar Army who served as the eighth President of Myanmar from 2011 to 2016. He previously served as Prime Minister ...
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 Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the ...
, 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 Li Keqiang, 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 Business process management (BPM) is the discipline in which people use various methods to discover, model, analyze, measure, improve, optimize, and automate business processes. Any combination of methods used to manage a company's business p ...
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 Park Geun-hye (; ; often in English ; born 2 February 1952) is a South Korean politician who served as the 11th president of South Korea from 2013 to 2017, until she was impeached and convicted on related corruption charges. Park was the fi ...
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 An overseas Filipino ( fil, Pilipino sa ibayong-dagat) is a person of full or partial Filipino origin—i.e., people who trace back their ancestry to the Philippines but living or residing outside the country. This term generally applies to ...
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 Singapore Changi Airport, commonly known as Changi Airport , is a major civilian international airport that serves Singapore, and is one of the largest transportation hubs in Asia. As one of the world's busiest airports by international passe ...
at 11:28 am SST. After arriving, President Aquino headed to the Istana to meet with Prime Minister
Lee Hsien Loong Lee Hsien Loong (; born 10 February 1952) is a Singaporean politician and former brigadier-general who has been serving as Prime Minister of Singapore and Secretary-General of the People's Action Party since 2004. He has been the Member of Par ...
and President Tony Tan Keng Yam, the latter of whom hosted a luncheon for President Aquino. In the evening, President Aquino attended ''
The Economist ''The Economist'' is a British weekly newspaper printed in demitab format and published digitally. It focuses on current affairs, international business, politics, technology, and culture. Based in London, the newspaper is owned by The Eco ...
s "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, his recent meeting with Chinese President
Xi Jinping Xi Jinping ( ; ; ; born 15 June 1953) is a Chinese politician who has served as the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), and thus as the paramount leader of China, ...
, 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, Temasek Holdings,
Keppel Corporation Keppel Corporation (also known as Keppel Corp) is a Singaporean conglomerate headquartered in Keppel Bay Tower, HarbourFront. The company consists of several affiliated businesses that specialises in offshore & marine, property, infrastructure ...
, and GIC Private Limited. In the afternoon, the President dined at a
Jollibee Jollibee is a Filipino chain of fast food restaurants owned by Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC). As of December 2021, JFC had a total of about 1,500 Jollibee outlets worldwide, with restaurants in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, East Asia ...
branch at Lucky Plaza, where he was met by a crowd of
Filipinos Filipinos ( tl, Mga Pilipino) are the people who are citizens of or native to the Philippines. The majority of Filipinos today come from various Austronesian ethnolinguistic groups, all typically speaking either Filipino, English and/or othe ...
, 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 in
Busan Busan (), officially known as is South Korea's most populous city after Seoul, with a population of over 3.4 million inhabitants. Formerly romanized as Pusan, it is the economic, cultural and educational center of southeastern South Korea, ...
. 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 at around 1:40 pm KST. On the sidelines of the summit, the President met with President
Park Geun-hye Park Geun-hye (; ; often in English ; born 2 February 1952) is a South Korean politician who served as the 11th president of South Korea from 2013 to 2017, until she was impeached and convicted on related corruption charges. Park was the fi ...
. 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 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. After, the President joined President Park and the other nine
ASEAN 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, militar ...
leaders in viewing a traditional Korean arts and crafts exhibit at the
Busan Exhibition and Convention Center Busan Exhibition and Convention Center, commonly known as BEXCO (), is a convention and exhibition center located in Centum City, Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea. It features over 46,500 m2 of exhibition space and 53 meeting rooms. In June 2012, ...
, 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 In common usage, climate change describes global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to ...
, and emergency management. 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 The KAI T-50 Golden Eagle (골든이글) is a family of South Korean supersonic advanced jet trainers and light combat aircraft, developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) with Lockheed Martin. The T-50 is South Korea's first indigenous s ...
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 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. In addition, it serves ...
in Kuala Lumpur and
Langkawi Langkawi, officially known by its sobriquet Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah ( ms, Langkawi Permata Kedah ), is a duty-free island and an archipelago of 99 islands (plus five small islands visible only at low tide in the Strait of Malacca) loc ...
. and (May 6 to 9, 2015) :In April 2015, Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Abigail Valte 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 David Lloyd Johnston (born June 28, 1941) is a Canadian academic, author, and statesman who served from 2010 to 2017 as Governor General of Canada, the 28th since Canadian Confederation. He is the commissioner of the Leaders' Debates Commis ...
, 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 Chicago O'Hare International Airport , sometimes referred to as, Chicago O'Hare, or simply O'Hare, is the main international airport serving Chicago, Illinois, located on the city's Northwest Side, approximately northwest of the Loop busines ...
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 In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well ...
Rahm Emanuel Rahm Israel Emanuel (; born November 29, 1959) is an American politician and diplomat who is the current United States Ambassador to Japan. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served two terms as the 55th Mayor of Chicago from 2011 ...
, who presented him with a Chicago City Council Resolution. After, the President headed to the TransUnion headquarters to attend a round table discussion with representatives from the
U.S. Chamber of Commerce The United States Chamber of Commerce (USCC) is the largest lobbying group in the United States, representing over three million businesses and organizations. The group was founded in April 1912 out of local chambers of commerce at the urgin ...
, the US-ASEAN Business Council, and the National Center for
APEC 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.
. 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 The World Bank Group (WBG) is a family of five international organizations that make leveraged loans to developing countries. It is the largest and best-known development bank in the world and an observer at the United Nations Development Gr ...
's
Ease of doing business index The ease of doing business index was an index created jointly by Simeon Djankov, Michael Klein, and Caralee McLiesh, three leading economists at the World Bank Group. The academic research for the report was done jointly with professors Edward ...
and the
World Economic Forum The World Economic Forum (WEF) is an international non-governmental and lobbying organisation based in Cologny, canton of Geneva, Switzerland. It was founded on 24 January 1971 by German engineer and economist Klaus Schwab. The foundation, ...
's ''
Global Competitiveness Report The ''Global Competitiveness Report'' (GCR) is a yearly report published by the World Economic Forum. Since 2004, the ''Global Competitiveness Report'' ranks countries based on the Global Competitiveness Index, developed by Xavier Sala-i-Martin an ...
'', 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 Landau ( pfl, Landach), officially Landau in der Pfalz, is an autonomous (''kreisfrei'') town surrounded by the Südliche Weinstraße ("Southern Wine Route") district of southern Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is a university town (since 1990) ...
driven by the
Royal Canadian Mounted Police The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP; french: Gendarmerie royale du Canada; french: GRC, label=none), commonly known in English as the Mounties (and colloquially in French as ) is the federal police, federal and national police service of ...
at Rideau Hall, where he was met by Governor General Johnston and his wife Sharon. 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, to which the President cited
good governance Good governance is the process of measuring how public institutions conduct public affairs and manage public resources and guarantee the realization of human rights in a manner essentially free of abuse and corruption and with due regard for th ...
, the
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (English: Bridging Program for the Filipino Family), also known as 4Ps and formerly ''Bangon Pamilyang Pilipino'', is a conditional cash transfer program of the Philippine government under the Department of S ...
, 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 ar, منطقة بانجسامورو ذاتية الحكم فى مسلمى مينداناو , native_name = , settlement_type = Autonomous region , anthem = Bangsamoro Hymn , image_skyline ...
peace process A peace process is the set of sociopolitical negotiations, agreements and actions that aim to solve a specific armed conflict. Definitions Prior to an armed conflict occurring, peace processes can include the prevention of an intra-state or in ...
. After the meeting, President Aquino participated in a ceremonial planting of a
red spruce ''Picea rubens'', commonly known as red spruce, is a species of spruce native to eastern North America, ranging from eastern Quebec and Nova Scotia, west to the Adirondack Mountains and south through New England along the Appalachians to western ...
outside Rideau Hall, which is adjacent to the
red maple ''Acer rubrum'', the red maple, also known as swamp maple, water maple, or soft maple, is one of the most common and widespread deciduous trees of eastern and central North America. The U.S. Forest Service recognizes it as the most abundant nativ ...
planted by his mother, former President Corazon Aquino, 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 at the
Centre Block The Centre Block (french: Édifice du Centre) is the main building of the Canadian parliamentary complex on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, Ontario, containing the House of Commons and Senate chambers, as well as the offices of a number of members ...
of
Parliament Hill Parliament Hill (french: Colline du Parlement, colloquially known as The Hill, is an area of Crown land on the southern banks of the Ottawa River in downtown Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Its Gothic revival suite of buildings, and their archit ...
. At their bilateral meeting, the two heads of government discussed the regional developments on the territorial disputes in the
South China Sea The South China Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean. It is bounded in the north by the shores of South China (hence the name), in the west by the Indochinese Peninsula, in the east by the islands of Taiwan and northwestern Phi ...
, the safety of the Overseas Filipino Workers 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 The Library of Parliament (french: Bibliothèque du Parlement) is the main information repository and research resource for the Parliament of Canada. The main branch of the library sits at the rear of the Centre Block on Parliament Hill in Otta ...
. Prime Minister Harper hosted a working luncheon for President Aquino, before the latter headed to Macdonald–Cartier International Airport to depart for
Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the anch ...
. President Aquino arrived at
Toronto Pearson International Airport Lester B. Pearson International Airport , commonly known as Toronto Pearson International Airport, is an international airport located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. It is the main airport serving Toronto, its metropolitan area, and the surr ...
at 2:28 pm EDT and headed to the
Fairmont Royal York The Fairmont Royal York, formerly and still commonly known as the Royal York, is a large historic luxury hotel in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Located along Front Street West, the hotel is situated at the southern end of the Financial District, in ...
to attend a round table business meeting with the
Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada), created by an Act of Parliament in 1984, is an independent, not-for-profit think-tank on Canada's relations with Asia. Based in Vancouver, with a secondary office in Toronto, APF Canada functio ...
, 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 Roy Thomson Hall is a concert hall in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Located downtown in the city's entertainment district, it is home to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, and the Toronto Defiant. Opened in 1982, its circ ...
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 Justin Pierre James Trudeau ( , ; born December 25, 1971) is a Canadian politician who is the 23rd and current prime minister of Canada. He has served as the prime minister of Canada since 2015 and as the leader of the Liberal Party since 2 ...
, leader of the
Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. __TOC__ Active liberal parties This is a li ...
, and
Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central C ...
Premier Kathleen Wynne. He also held a coffee meeting with the Filipino media. :On Saturday, May 9, President Aquino departed Toronto for
Vancouver Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...
, 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 Vancouver International Airport is an international airport located on Sea Island in Richmond, British Columbia, serving the city of Vancouver and the Lower Mainland region. It is located from Downtown Vancouver. It is the second busie ...
past noon, where he was welcomed by Minister of National Defence and Multiculturalism and Citizenship
Jason Kenney Jason Thomas Kenney (born May 30, 1968) is a Canadian former politician who served as the 18th premier of Alberta from 2019 until 2022 and the leader of the United Conservative Party (UCP) from 2017 until 2022. He also served as the member of ...
and
British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...
Attorney General Suzanne Anton. After arriving, President Aquino headed to the Pan Pacific Vancouver Hotel to meet with British Columbia Premier 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 Baldo ...
and British Columbia International Trade Minister Teresa Wat, 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 in the Philippines, particularly
Cebu Cebu (; ceb, Sugbo), officially the Province of Cebu ( ceb, Lalawigan sa Sugbo; tl, Lalawigan ng Cebu; hil, Kapuroan sang Sugbo), is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, and consists of a main island and 16 ...
. During their meeting, the Aquilini Investment Group also expressed interest in investing in the
tourism Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tours. The World Tourism Organization defines tourism mor ...
and the agricultural sectors of the Philippines. Finally, the President met with the Filipino community at the
Vancouver Convention Centre The Vancouver Convention Centre (formerly known as the Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre, or VCEC) is a convention centre in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; it is one of Canada's largest convention centres. With the opening of the ne ...
. 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 in the
South China Sea The South China Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean. It is bounded in the north by the shores of South China (hence the name), in the west by the Indochinese Peninsula, in the east by the islands of Taiwan and northwestern Phi ...
. :On Tuesday, June 2, President Aquino arrived at
Haneda Airport , officially , and sometimes called as Tokyo Haneda Airport or Haneda International Airport , is one of two international airports serving the Greater Tokyo Area, the other one being Narita International Airport (NRT). It serves as the primary ...
. After arriving, he headed to the
Imperial Hotel Imperial Hotel or Hotel Imperial may refer to: Hotels Australia * Imperial Hotel, Ravenswood, Queensland * Imperial Hotel, York, Western Australia Austria * Hotel Imperial, Vienna India * The Imperial, New Delhi Ireland * Imperial Hotel, D ...
to meet with Japanese businessmen, before meeting with the
Filipino community A Little Manila ( fil, Munting Maynila or ), also known as a Manilatown ( fil, Bayang Maynila) or Filipinotown ( fil, Bayang Pilipino), is a community with a large Filipino immigrant and descendant population. Little Manilas are enclaves of Overs ...
at Hotel Okura. :On Wednesday, June 3, President Aquino was received by
Emperor 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), ...
Akihito is a member of the Imperial House of Japan who reigned as the 125th emperor of Japan from 7 January 1989 until his abdication on 30 April 2019. He presided over the Heisei era, ''Heisei'' being an expression of achieving peace worldwide. B ...
and Empress Michiko at the Imperial Palace. During their meeting, President Aquino was awarded the Grand Cordon of the
Order of the Chrysanthemum is Japan's highest order. The Grand Cordon of the Order was established in 1876 by Emperor Meiji of Japan; the Collar of the Order was added on 4 January 1888. Unlike its European counterparts, the order may be conferred posthumously. Apart fr ...
by Emperor Akihito, who in return was awarded the Grand Collar (''Supremo'') of the Order of Lakandula by President Aquino for bolstering the Japan–Philippines relations. 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 Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...
's territorial expansion before
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
. Later that afternoon, President Aquino addressed a joint session of the National Diet, seeking Japan's assistance to resolve the territorial disputes. In the evening, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko hosted a
state dinner A state banquet is an official banquet hosted by the head of state in his or her official residence for another head of state, or sometimes head of government, and other guests. Usually as part of a state visit or diplomatic conference, it is h ...
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 , or the , is one of the two state guest houses of the Government of Japan. The other state guesthouse is the Kyoto State Guest House. The palace was originally built as the in 1909. Today the palace is designated by the Government of Japan a ...
to meet with Prime Minister
Shinzō Abe Shinzo Abe ( ; ja, 安倍 晋三, Hepburn: , ; 21 September 1954 – 8 July 2022) was a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan and President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2012 to 20 ...
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 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 ar, منطقة بانجسامورو ذاتية الحكم فى مسلمى مينداناو , native_name = , settlement_type = Autonomous region , anthem = Bangsamoro Hymn , image_skyline ...
peace process A peace process is the set of sociopolitical negotiations, agreements and actions that aim to solve a specific armed conflict. Definitions Prior to an armed conflict occurring, peace processes can include the prevention of an intra-state or in ...
. 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 Universal health care (also called universal health coverage, universal coverage, or universal care) is a health care system in which all residents of a particular country or region are assured access to health care. It is generally organized ar ...
. :On Friday, June 5, President Aquino held a joint press conference with the
Japan National Press Club The is an association of journalists in Japan. History This was established as a national press centre, in place of Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan, in November 1969. See also * Press club * Mass media and politics in Japan * Kisha club ...
, where he announced his intentions for a
Visiting Forces Agreement A visiting forces agreement (VFA) is an agreement between a country and a foreign nation having military forces visiting in that country. Visiting forces agreements are similar in intent to status of forces agreements (SOFAs). A VFA typically cov ...
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 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. In addition, it serves ...
and the Tenth East Asia Summit 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, 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, 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 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 Sergio Mattarella (; born 23 July 1941) is an Italian politician, jurist, academic and lawyer who has served as the president of Italy since 2015. A Christian leftist politician, Mattarella was a leading member of the Christian Democracy par ...
and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and have an audience with
Pope Francis Pope Francis ( la, Franciscus; it, Francesco; es, link=, Francisco; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936) is the head of the Catholic Church. He has been the bishop of Rome and sovereign of the Vatican City State since 13 March 2013. ...
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 In common usage, climate change describes global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to ...
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 Paris–Le Bourget Airport (french: link=no, Aéroport de Paris-Le Bourget) is an airport located within portions of the communes of Le Bourget, Bonneuil-en-France, Dugny and Gonesse, north-northeast of Paris, France. Once Paris's principal ...
on Sunday, November 29, at around 6:15 pm
CET CET or cet may refer to: Places * Cet, Albania * Cet, standard astronomical abbreviation for the constellation Cetus * Colchester Town railway station (National Rail code CET), in Colchester, England Arts, entertainment, and media * Comcast En ...
.


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 Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the ...
from February 15 to 16 at the Sunnylands estate in
Rancho Mirage, California Rancho Mirage is a city in Riverside County, California, United States. The population was 17,218 at the 2010 census, up from 13,249 at the 2000 census, but the seasonal (part-time) population can exceed 20,000. Incorporated in 1973 and locate ...
, joining the other leaders of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations 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, militar ...
(ASEAN). According to a statement released by the
White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., and has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in ...
, the summit aims to strengthen cooperation on "political, security and economic issues" between the United States and the ASEAN member states 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 Territorial disputes in the South China Sea involve conflicting island and maritime claims in the region by several sovereign states, namely Brunei, the People's Republic of China (PRC), Taiwan (Republic of China/ROC), Indonesia, Malaysia, Ph ...
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, 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. On February 17, President Aquino received an honorary
Doctor of Humane Letters The degree of Doctor of Humane Letters (; DHumLitt; DHL; or LHD) is an honorary degree awarded to those who have distinguished themselves through humanitarian and philanthropic contributions to society. The criteria for awarding the degree differ ...
degree from the
Loyola Marymount University Loyola Marymount University (LMU) is a private Jesuit and Marymount research university in Los Angeles, California. It is located on the west side of the city near Playa Vista. LMU is the parent school to Loyola Law School, which is located ...
"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 * 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 A government gazette (also known as an official gazette, official journal, official newspaper, official monitor or official bulletin) is a periodical publication that has been authorised to publish public or legal notices. It is usually establis ...
'' {{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