MANILA, Philippines – Benigno Aquino III has left for the United States on his first foreign trip since becoming Philippine president.
Aquino departed Manila late Monday. He is due to attend a summit of President Barack Obama and Southeast Asian leaders and attend a U.N. anti-poverty summit.
Aquino is the son of democracy icons and took office June 30 after winning an election.
He has pledged to make only the most important overseas trips in recognition of the massive poverty in his deeply indebted country.
Since becoming president Aquino has introduced anti-corruption reforms. Aquino said before departing that his message to the world and Washington was that the Philippines "is one for business."
The United States is the Philippines largest trading partner.
