Marcos off to Australia

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos leaves today for Australia for a “guest of government” visit until tomorrow, on the invitation of Canberra Governor General David Hurley.

On March 4 to 6, the President will return to Australia for the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit upon the invitation of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, according to foreign affairs spokesperson Maria Teresita Daza.

Marcos, who has had 21 foreign trips since becoming president in 2022, will deliver a speech before Australian lawmakers during his visit, the first by a Philippine president.

He will also have a formal exchange of views on various cooperation areas and regional issues with Hurley, Albanese and parliamentary leaders.

“During this visit, the President will have the honor of addressing the parliament of Australia where he is expected to convey a shared vision and future with Australia under the ambit of the strategic partnership and informed by common history, long-standing people-to-people ties and mutual adherence to the rules-based order and international law,” Daza said at a press briefing yesterday at Malacañang.

According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), Marcos will be joining 16 world leaders who have addressed the Australian parliament, including the late US presidents George H.W. Bush in 1992, Bill Clinton in 1996 and George W. Bush in 2003; Chinese President Hu Jintao, British Prime Minister Tony Blair in 2006 and Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2014.

Daza said the first leg of Marcos’ visit to Australia would “further strengthen existing bonds of cooperation” and enable discussions for new avenues of collaboration as the two countries look forward to celebrating the 78th anniversary of their diplomatic ties this year.

“The visit is envisioned to further cement the strategic partnership that affirmed the two countries’ shared interests in regional prosperity and peace,” she added.

In a statement last Saturday, the PCO said Marcos is expected to discuss defense and security, trade, investments, people-to-people exchanges, multilateral cooperation and regional issues during separate meetings with Australian senior officials.

Asked if there would be outcome