Malacañang noted Saturday the importance being given by the Obama administration to Asian countries like the Philippines, following the personal nomination of US President Barack Obama of Harry K. Thomas Jr. as the new US Ambassador to the Philippines.

“President Obama is walking the talk about giving new importance to Asia, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the entire Asia-Pacific region,” Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said.

Remonde said the incoming US Ambassador is expected to receive a warm welcome from the country as well as to strengthen the bilateral ties between the Philippines and the US.

“Considering the very warm relations between Presidents Barack Obama and Gloria Arroyo as illustrated by fact that President Arroyo was the first ASEAN leader that Pres. Obama invited to the White House; considering the fact that in the last Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Singapore, President Arroyo acted as the spokesman of Asia; and considering the very warm, personal rapport between the two [leaders]; and considering that the incoming ambassador is a personal choice and a personal nominee of President Obama, that could only mean one thing: that it will call for a friendly, warmer, better Philippine-American relations,” Remonde said.

He lauded outgoing US Ambassador Kristie Kenney for her efforts to reach out to the Filipino people during her almost four years of stay here, adding that the ambassador will surely be missed.

“Of course, we also would like to thank Ambassador Kenney. Tayo naman po ay nalulungkot at mamimiss din natin [Amb. Kenney] sa kanyang pag-alis pero that is beyond us kung sinong itatalagang ambassador,(We are sad that we will miss her. But it is beyond us who the next US ambassador is )” Remonde said.