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PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is confident that Australia will remain one of the Philippines’ closest allies.
The President made this remark following his two-day state visit in Australia.
“Australia remains, and will continue to be, one of our closest friends. In the spirit of bayanihan and mateship, we shall forge ahead in fully maximizing the potentials and the gains from this Strategic Partnership between our two forward-looking, law-abiding maritime states,” Marcos said.
The chief executive referred to the visit as a significant step in realizing the opportunities and potential set forth under the framework of the Strategic Partnership between the Philippines and Australia.
The Philippines elevated its bilateral relationship with Australia from comprehensive to a Strategic Partnership during the visit of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to the Philippines in September last year.
The President said the visit was a significant move in enhancing the bilateral ties with Australia.
“Following the visit of Prime Minister Albanese to our country last September, we have seen an increased tempo in bilateral engagements in various areas of cooperation, most prominent of which is our recent closer collaboration on defense and security,” President Marcos said as he thanked Australia for its support in the South China Sea issue.
Marcos was the first Filipino leader to address the Australian Parliament.
In his speech, the Prrsident highlighted the Philippines’ steadfast support for regional peace and harmony.
“I conveyed to Australian legislators the important role of both our countries as proponents of the rules-based international order and its significance amidst the present complexities in global geopolitics,” Marcos said.
“As democratic maritime nations, access to the global commons such as the oceans and the seas must be ensured and safeguarded.”
