On Wednesday, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. arrived in Canberra, Australia to address the Australian Parliament, becoming the first Filipino leader to do so.
President Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos were warmly welcomed by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his partner Jodie Haydon.
During his two-day visit, President Marcos is expected to sign three agreements on cooperation, although the specifics have not been disclosed by the Palace.
In his address before the Australian Parliament, President Marcos will present his vision for the Strategic Partnership between the Philippines and Australia.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that the South China Sea issue will be discussed on the sidelines of his parliamentary address.
President Marcos will also engage in meetings with Australian senior officials to discuss various topics including defense, security, trade, investments, people-to-people exchanges, multilateral cooperation, and regional issues.
Following his return to the Philippines, President Marcos will travel back to Australia on Monday to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations – Australia Summit.
Source: PhilNews24 | February 29, 2024
