The Manila Times
THE Philippines' Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro and United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio held talks in Washington, D.C., on Friday and discussed further expansion in the Philippine-US economic relations, specifically through the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC). The LEC is a flagship trilateral project by the Philippines, the US, and Japan. It is an economic site. Manila and Washington, D.C., are also positioning as a future location for the Pax Silica's 4,000-acre industrial artificial intelligence hub. “The Secretary (Rubio) reaffirmed the US commitment to developing the Luzon Economic Corridor and exploring ways to address energy challenges in the region,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement Saturday. “The Secretary emphasized the strength of the United States-Philippines Alliance and continued close cooperation as the two countries commemorate 80 years of diplomatic relations and 75 years as allies in 2026.” Lazaro said the productive meet primarily focused on strengthening the two nations’ economic diplomacy. “We also reaffirmed our strong maritime cooperation and shared commitment to maintaining regional peace and stability, emphasizing the importance of diplomatic channels to de-escalate tensions,” she said. Pigott said the officials discussed a range of bilateral economic and security priorities, including the Philippines’ Asean chair year as well as efforts to advance peace and security in the South China Sea. In a related development, US Ambassador-designate to the Philippines Lee Marc Lipton is expected to arrive in Manila in June to start his tour of duty. Lazaro said she looks forward to a vibrant chapter of the Philippines-United States partnership. "It was a pleasure meeting US Ambassador-designate to the Philippines Lee Marc Lipton in Washington, D.C., ahead of his arrival in Manila this month," Lazaro wrote on X on Friday. The US Senate in May confirmed Lipton's appointment as the next ambassador of Washington to Manila. The US State Department in January said Lipton has served since January 2025 as chief of staff to the US Mission to the Organization of American States, US Department of State, where he helped lead US engagement on a range of regional challenges. Before entering public service, Lipton developed and led a successful business in New York City. Lipton’s 50 years of private sector experience influenced his diplomatic role, the State Department said in submitting Lipton's certificate of competency to the US Senate. The State Department said Lipton offered a strong business-to-business perspective to US engagement at the Organization of American States, "championing economic engagement, institutional efficiency, and multilateral cooperation in support of regional stability and prosperity." It also informed the US Senate's Committee on Foreign Relations that Lipton oversaw the design, manufacturing, marketing and distribution of licensed collections for globally recognized brands such as Calvin Klein, St. John Knits, and Guess. After selling his company to a publicly traded firm, he transitioned into the hospitality industry, owning several oceanfront restaurants. His landmark restaurants remain among the highest-volume establishments in Palm Beach County, Florida.
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