Marcos back in PH after 'short, but highly productive' UAE visit

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. returned to the Philippines Wednesday, following what he described as a «short, but highly productive visit» to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The plane carrying the President and his delegation landed at 10:00 a.m. at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said.

In his arrival statement, Marcos said his visit was meant to commemorate 50 years of «very strong and friendly, and rapidly progressing bilateral ties between our two countries.»

«At this brief visit, I reaffirmed the Philippines' commitment to further strengthen our bilateral ties, progressing towards new spheres of engagement,» Marcos said.

«I look forward to the implementation of several bilateral agreements in culture, energy transition, legal cooperation, artificial intelligence and digital economy, the improvement of government activities, visa waiver for holders of diplomatic, special, and official passports, and investment cooperation,» he added.

Marcos said he also met with UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and expressed his gratitude to the UAE's care and respect for the Filipino community there.

In response, he said the UAE president commended the Filipino people for their contributions towards UAE's development.

«I thanked Sheikh Al Nahyan for understanding that my visit had to be cut short, given the need to attend to relief and reconstruction activities in communities devastated by successive typhoons,» Marcos said.

«I also conveyed appreciation for the UAE Government's constant humanitarian support for victims of these natural calamities,» he added.

Marcos said he also invited the UAE president to visit the Philippines in the coming months «to continue our dialogue and to explore further areas of cooperation.»