MANILA, PHILIPPINES – President Marcos will participate in the ASEAN-Australia Summit, where he praises the Australian Government for its support of the rule of law and restate the Philippines’ position on regional and global issues.
In addition, he is scheduled to meet with the Filipino community in Melbourne and encourage business through the Department of Trade and Industry’s Philippine Business Forum.
He will likely have bilateral meetings with Cambodia’s and New Zealand’s prime ministers, Samdech Hun Manet and Christopher Mark Luxon.
Additionally, he will give a keynote address at the Lowy Institute, emphasizing the Philippines’ role as an active player in international affairs and contributing to the rules-based regional security architecture.
On July 4, 1946, the Philippines and Australia established formal ties. In September of last year, President Marcos and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese inked a deal that transformed the two countries’ bilateral relationship from a comprehensive to a strategic partnership.
With grant pledges of USD 180.4 million, Australia remains the 11th largest contributor of official development assistance to the Philippines.
About 408,000 Filipinos and Australians descended from Filipinos live there.
Apart from Marcos, the Prime Ministers of Vietnam, Laos, and Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim and Sonexay Siphandone, are the official guests of the Australian Government.
“Australia is proud to be ASEAN’s first Dialogue Partner, sharing 50 years of mutual respect and cooperation with our friends in Southeast Asia,” Albanese said in a press release.
“Building Australia’s links with Southeast Asian countries is a priority for the government. The Special Summit commemorates our shared history and focuses firmly on the future — on how we can deepen our ties and Australia’s engagement with our region,” he also added.
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