MANILA, Philippines (PNA) -- The Philippines and the United States meet for their first-ever 'strategic dialogue' on January 27 and 28 to review, among others, their bilateral relations, mutually described as “nurtured by a shared history and adherence to common values, especially a commitment to freedom, democracy, and free enterprise.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs and the U.S. embassy in Manila simultaneously announced on Wednesday the holding of the dialogue in Manila.

DFA Secretary Alberto G. Romulo said that “the Dialogue will affirm the strength of the Philippine-U.S. alliance and the dynamic partnership for peace, security, stability and prosperity.”

U.S. ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. said that “through this Dialogue, our two governments will affirm our commitment to our long standing alliance and to continuing our work as equal partners, discuss current challenges, and identify new areas for cooperation.”

“As fellow democracies with a long history of friendship, our countries will affirm our obligation to demonstrate leadership and make efforts for positive advances for the Philippines, the region, and the common good,” Thomas added.

DFA Undersecretary Erlinda Basilio and Defense Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino spearheads the Manila delegation while Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs Derek Mitchell lead the U.S. side.

The embassy said the bilateral dialogue “gives both governments a great opportunity to affirm their long standing alliance and friendship, discuss current challenges, identify new areas for cooperation, and continue their work as equal partners.”

According to the DFA, senior officials will discuss major domestic, regional and global issues that bear significantly on Philippines-U.S. relations and identify new areas of cooperation. They will also exchange views on each country’s national priorities, identify areas where priorities intersect, and discuss how the Philippines and the U.S. can partner in addressing them through concrete programs and activities.

”With a changing regional and global environment, the Philippines and the United States are now looking forward to shift the partnership into higher gear at a time when our ties have become broad-based, modern, mature and resilient,” the DFA continued.

”This Dialogue is a clear manifestation of both countries’ resolve to enhance their relations. Issues to be discussed are: the evolving regional architecture in Asia-Pacific and regional challenges; nuclear non-proliferation; humanitarian assistance/disaster response and climate change; trafficking against persons, promotion of human rights and the rule of law; trade and economic cooperation, specifically investments in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement; combating terrorism; peace and development in Mindanao; global peacekeeping and multilateral cooperation.”

The Dialogue is significant because “for the first time, a fusion of foreign policy, trade and economic, and defense and security issues will be discussed in one forum,” according to the DFA.

It is also especially important given that the Philippines is the current Country Coordinator of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations with the United States until July next year.