MANILA, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Visiting U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday suggested that Washington is not in favor of terminating the Philippines-U.S. Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), stressing that the accord is an "important expression of partnership" between the two countries.

Visiting U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton answers questions from the media shortly upon her arrival in Manila, the Philippines, on Nov. 12, 2009. Clinton on Thursday suggested that Washington is not in favor of terminating the Philippines-U.S. Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), stressing that the accord is an "important expression of partnership" between the two countries.(Xinhua/Luis Liwanag) Photo Gallery>>>

    Clinton, who is on a two-day visit to Manila, maintained that the 10-year-old treaty is beneficial to both countries, particularly to the Philippines, by providing disaster relief assistance in times of calamities and helping its cash-strapped military eradicate terrorism.

    "Let me say that the U.S. is committed to strong partnership and alliance with the Philippines and I'm here today to reaffirm that commitment. The Visiting Forces Agreement is an important expression of that partnership based on mutual respect and mutual interest," Clinton told a press conference.

    "Our service members as we have seen in these last natural disasters are ready to provide assistance where it is asked for and to work side by side with the military of the Philippines. I'm proud with what our service members have done and to respond to the devastating storms and the floods," she added.

    On his part, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo noted that the VFA is "working well" for the Philippines.

    "In addition to assisting and advising, socio civic and humanitarian aspect of the undertaking, the humanitarian aspect came out into the fore during typhoons Ketsana and Parma. They deployed military personnel, equipment, helicopters, boats, forklift, and bulldozers to immediately assist our people," Romulosaid.

    U.S. and Philippine military cooperation under the auspices of the VFA has led to the capture and death of top leaders of the extremist Abu Sayyaf group (ASG), which is said to have links with Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaida network.

    The ASG, which is included in the U.S. government's foreign terrorist organization list, has claimed responsibility for several terror attacks in the country and is notorious for kidnapping foreigners in exchange for huge ransom.

Visiting U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrives for a press conference shortly after her arrival in Manila, the Philippines, on Nov. 12, 2009. Clinton on Thursday suggested that Washington is not in favor of terminating the Philippines-U.S. Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), stressing that the accord is an "important expression of partnership" between the two countries.(Xinhua/Luis Liwanag) Photo Gallery>>>