Manila, July 22 -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed Philippine-U.S. relations, regional developments and economic cooperation during their meeting in Malacanang on Wednesday, with China remaining part of the broader conversation amid continuing tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

Rubio paid a courtesy call on Marcos while in Manila for the 59th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting and Related Summits, which the Philippines is hosting as this year's ASEAN chair.

Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel "Babe" Romualdez said the meeting centered on strengthening bilateral cooperation in defense and the economy.

"Generally, it was just ...