U.S.-Japan-Philippines hold first trilateral, with 'many more' to come

WASHINGTON -- The first-ever trilateral summit among the U.S., Japan and the Philippines was held at the White House on Thursday, with all three leaders signaling that many more meetings would follow in the years to come.

"We gather today in Washington as equal partners and trusted friends, united by the vision we share of a free and open Indo-Pacific and international order based on international law -- a vision we pledge to advance together for decades to come," a joint vision statement issued after the meeting said.