Marcos leaves for Melbourne for ASEAN-Australia Special Summit

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. departure for ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, March 3, 2024. RTVM screenshot

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Sunday morning left for Melbourne, Australia to participate in the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit.

The Special Summit seeks to commemorate the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-Australia relations, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) earlier said.

According to DFA Assistant Secretary Daniel Espiritu, the Special Summit presents an opportunity for the government to show the Philippines’ core position on regional and international issues.

He also said Marcos could encourage Australia to remain committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes and to maintain respect for the rules-based international order.

During his state visit to Canberra last week, Marcos said Australia remains and will continue to be one of the Philippines’ closest friends. He also sought its support on addressing challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.

In October 2021, ASEAN and Australia made the historic decision to establish a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), which has ramped up cooperation, advanced shared priorities and implemented new programs among nations.

Under the CSP, a broad range of cooperation is being taken forward, including various sectors such as energy transition, digital economy, health, and countering human trafficking.

In November of this year, the Philippines and Australia will mark the 78th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.

Filipinos and Australians with Filipino descent number 408,000 in Australia as of 2022, according to the Presidential Communications Office. This makes them the fifth largest migrant community in Australia. — VDV, GMA Integrated News

This article Marcos leaves for Melbourne for ASEAN-Australia Special Summit was originally published in GMA News Online.