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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will finally get the chance to personally meet the 44th president of the United States of America, as she has already accepted the invitation to meet with US President Barack Obama in Washington DC on July 30, 2009. This was reported by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Arroyo will be the first leader from Southeast Asia to meet with Obama, according to the White House. DFA said that she was also the first Southeast Asian leader to talk to President Obama after winning the US election.

During her visit, the DFA said Arroyo is expected to discuss “the Philippines’ poverty alleviation and economic resiliency programs, good governance, counter-terrorism efforts, and its contributions to peace and security in the region.”

“The visit to Washington DC is an affirmation of the strong partnership between the two countries that share historical and cultural ties and common democratic values,” the DFA said.

And while in the US for the meeting, Arroyo will also be meeting with the members of the US Congress, other administration officials, the business sector, as well as the Filipino-American community.

The invitation from the White House is also seen as “an opportunity to discuss ways to enhance the US-Philippine cooperation on critical global issues including counter-terrorism and climate change, as well as further the traditionally strong alliance and bond between our nations.”

The two countries, Philippines and United States, are bound by a 1951 treaty which calls on each side to help the other in times of wars. US Special Forces have been training together with their Philippine counterpart in the country by virtue of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).