President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos arrived in Melbourne on Sunday for the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit. They were greeted by Australian Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Tim Watts and other officials upon arrival at 7:15 pm local time.
During the summit, President Marcos is set to articulate the Philippines’ stance on regional and international issues while expressing gratitude for Australia’s consistent support for the rule of law. He is scheduled to engage in bilateral discussions with the Prime Ministers of Cambodia and New Zealand to bolster cooperation.
Moreover, President Marcos plans to engage with the Filipino community in Melbourne and promote business through the Philippine Business Forum of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
The Philippines and Australia share a bilateral relationship spanning 77 years, established on July 4, 1946. Last year, President Marcos and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese elevated their countries’ relationship to a strategic partnership through a signed agreement.
Australia remains a significant supporter of the Philippines, ranking as the country’s 11th largest source of Official Development Assistance (ODA), with grant commitments totaling US$180.4 million. Additionally, Australia is the second home to over 408,000 Filipinos and Australians of Filipino descent.
Source: PhilNews24 | March 4, 2024
