MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III's first official trip to the U.S. next month will focus on attracting investors who can create jobs in the Philippines.

"Job generation is first priority," Aquino said on Monday.

Aquino is scheduled to visit the US for 4 days in September, his first trip to the US after assuming the presidency.

Aquino is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly in New York. He will also be present at the signing of the US$400 million grant to the Philippines from the Millennium Challenge Corp. (MCC). (Click here for related story.)

He will also meet with Filipino-Americans in the information technology (IT) sector, which includes scientists and engineers.

Aquino said the visit is important since the US is the Philippines' "biggest, if not the biggest, trading partner."

"Therefore, we're called upon to really go there and try to make the country even more attractive to all these investors in the hopes of generating all of these jobs," Aquino said.

He declined to answer whether he will be taking up the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) during his visit.

A call on or a bilateral meeting with US President Barack Obama has not been confirmed.

Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo went to the US last week to prepare for Aquino's visit. (Click here for story.)

Aquino will also give priority to the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) and the ASEAN-EU meeting in Brussels in October where the heads of states of EU are expected to attend. (Click here for related story.)

China and Japan have requested for official visits by President Aquino. Details of these trips have yet to be finalized.