MANILA, March 16 (Xinhuanet) -- Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo Wednesday admitted that while the Philippines and the United States remain "stable" partners, both countries need to work on improving their relations.

    Romulo said that Manila and Washington should specifically workon the economic and trade aspects of its relations.

    "We also stress economic diplomacy because we need investments and tourism," Romulo told reporters after he was confirmed by the Commission on Appointment (CA).

    He also underscored the need for the US Congress to pass the bill that will compensate Filipino veterans and for Washington to reconsider its proposed reduction of aid to the Philippines.

    "I don't think it's deteriorating. I think it's stable, but certainly it needs to improve," he said during the CA hearing when asked whether Philippine-US relations have soured.

    He added that relations with the United States are "very good,"from the level of President George Bush Jr. to the US Senate.

    Philippine-US relations have been strained after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the pullout of Filipino troops in Iraq in exchange for the release of a Filipino driver held by Iraqi militants.

    Eight months after the incident, the Bush administration was reported to have proposed to the Congress to slash the aid to the Philippines by 30 percent to 87.7 million US dollars this year.

    However, Romulo belied speculations that the United States was retaliating against the Philippines because Manila was not on the itinerary of US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice's Asian trip.

    "I raised the question (with Washington) myself. The reply is that (her trip will cover) the first six countries. Our time will come," he said. Enditem