(File photo)
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday afternoon (Manila time) arrived in Canberra where he is set to discuss the Philippines’ and Australia’s strategic partnership with the Australian Parliament.
The presidential plane landed at the Royal Australian Air Force Fairbairn in Canberra, Australia at about 4:11 p.m. (Manila time), the Presidential Communications Office said in a statement.
In his pre-departure speech delivered at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Wednesday morning, Marcos said he would provide “greater” detail on the commitments to enhance the two nations' relations.
Marcos is in Canberra as a “guest” of the Australian government at the invitation of Australian Governor-General David Hurley.
During his visit, at least three agreements aimed at improving Philippine-Australian relations are expected to be signed.
Marcos expressed optimism that he would be able to bring home with him a “more robust, warmer, and closer Philippine-Australian relations.”
His Canberra trip is the first leg of his visit to Australia. He will return home on Thursday and will be in Melbourne, Australia on March 4 to 6 to participate in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) - Australia Special Summit.
Australia is the Philippines’ second largest partner in defense and security, and one of only two bilateral partners with whom it maintains a status of Visiting Forces Agreement.
It is also home to about 408,000 Filipinos and Australians of Filipino descent. (PNA)
