PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to welcome Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. who is coming to Manila for an official visit on Feb. 23-24, 2025, Malacañang announced on Friday.
“At their bilateral meeting, President Marcos is expected to exchange views with his Palau counterpart on expanding existing bilateral cooperation on fisheries, trade, investment, connectivity and people-to-people ties as well as exploring new avenues of collaboration such as on health and labor,” Malacañang said in a statement.
Regional issues, South-South cooperation, and shared advocacies in the multilateral arena are also expected to be on the agenda, the Palace said.
Palau hosts nearly 3,000 Filipinos, making up about 17 percent of the island-nation’s population.
The visit comes as both countries prepare to mark the 30th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations in 2027.
Relations between the two countries date back to the Spanish colonization era, and after the Philippines gained independence, Palau sent a delegation to the Malolos Congress in 1898.
History books showed that Palau was likewise colonized by Spain 1574 to 1899.
In 1979, four constituents of the Trust Territory decided to form the Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau opted to become its own independent state. The Philippines, Japan, =and Taiwan backed Palau’s decision.
Formal diplomatic ties between Philippines and Palau were established on July 15, 1997.
Then Palau President Thomas Remengesau Jr. met with President Rodrigo Duterte in Davao City on Feb. 15, 2018.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Marcos to host Palau president for official Manila visit.”