MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. expressed on Thursday 29 Feb 2024) that his recent two-day journey to Canberra played a pivotal role in advancing the ties between the Philippines and Australia.
Reflecting on his trip, Marcos emphasized that Australia continues to be one of the Philippines’ staunchest allies. He underscored the importance of the visit in materializing the potential of their bilateral relationship, transitioning it from a comprehensive to a strategic partnership.
“In the spirit of unity and camaraderie, we are committed to fully harnessing the opportunities brought forth by this strategic partnership between our two forward-thinking, law-abiding maritime nations. I eagerly anticipate our relentless pursuit of this vision,” Marcos stated.
During his visit, Marcos, invited by the Australian government as a guest to address the Australian Parliament, engaged in fruitful discussions with the country’s parliamentary leaders. He highlighted the significance of garnering their support to cultivate a conducive policy environment conducive to advancing bilateral relations.
“I stressed to the Australian legislators the vital roles both nations play as advocates of the rules-based international order, particularly in navigating the complexities of global geopolitics,” Marcos remarked.
Furthermore, Marcos underscored the importance of fostering a mutually beneficial economic relationship to bolster economic resilience and achieve inclusive growth for both nations.
“We also acknowledged the invaluable contributions of our longstanding people-to-people connections in fortifying and inspiring our efforts toward closer Philippine-Australian ties,” he added.
During his meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Marcos explored avenues to enhance cooperation across various sectors, including trade, investment, and security. Additionally, three agreements were inked between the Philippines and Australia in the fields of maritime cooperation, cyber and critical technology, and the implementation of competition laws.
“These agreements lay the groundwork for further collaboration, information exchange, and capacity-building initiatives, envisioned to deepen bilateral relations and contribute to regional development, peace, and prosperity,” Marcos concluded.
(el Amigo/MNM/With reports from PNA)
