President Marcos wrapped up his two-day state visit to Australia with a commitment to bolstering joint maritime activities and signing key bilateral agreements on maritime domain, cybersecurity, and trade.
“The three agreements exchanged today (Feb. 29) shall enhance information sharing, capability building, and interoperability between our relevant government agencies in the maritime domain and maritime environment, cyber and critical technology, and competition law,” President Marcos said in a joint press conference with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese shortly after their bilateral meeting.
These agreements add to the existing 120-plus agreements between the two countries across various sectors.
During the meeting, President Marcos acknowledged the strong ties between the two nations, particularly in defense, maritime cooperation, and various other sectors.
“Defense and security remain a key area of cooperation between the Philippines and Australia. We look forward to amplifying our joint activities and the capacity-building efforts in this regard,” President Marcos said.
He also stressed the significance of stronger economic ties, highlighting the resilience and opportunities it could bring to both nations.
“We anticipate greater bilateral economic cooperation that will allow us to withstand shocks, to be resilient against economic coercion, and to provide an enabling environment for our respective businesses and labor markets to further flourish under the ambit of our Strategic Relationship and Partnership,” he said.
President Marcos additionally recognized the substantial Filipino community in Australia, acknowledging their contributions to both countries’ economic and cultural well-being.
He emphasized the importance of future consultations and dialogues between the Philippines and Australia, aiming to explore new avenues for a closer partnership.
“The Philippines is fully ready to continue upholding its commitments as your Strategic Partner and as one of your oldest friends in the region,” he said.
He extended his well wishes for Australia’s upcoming hosting of the ASEAN-Australia Dialogue Relations summit and expressed the Philippines’ active participation in the event.
He will return to Manila later today, Feb. 29, before flying to Australia for the ASEAN – Australia Summit on March 4.