Marcos back in Australia for ASEAN summit

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PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. returned to Australia yesterday for the March 4-6 Association of Southeast Asian Summit (ASEAN)-Australian Special Summit where he intends to reiterate the Philippines’ position on regional and international issues, including on the rule of law in the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea.

The President and First Lady Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos left at 8:21 a.m. and arrived in Melbourne at 7:15 pm (4:15 pm in Manila).

Vice President Sara Duterte, who was absent in the departure ceremony, heads the caretaker committee while Marcos is abroad.

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It is the President’s second trip to Australia in a week. He arrived on February 29 from an overnight state visit in Canberra. It is his fourth international travel this year, following his attendance to a royal wedding in Brunei and state visit to Vietnam.

Marcos said he is attending the special summit to commemorate 50 years of ASEAN-Australia relations, on the invitation of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

He said his attendance to the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit is important as the event “presents an opportunity to reiterate the Philippines’ national positions on regional and international issues and set the tone for ASEAN’s Dialogue Partner Summits later in the year.”

Marcos is expected to attend two main engagements during the summit — the Leaders’ Plenary and Leaders’ Retreat which will be focused on strengthening collaboration under the 2021-established Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with key focal points on emerging business leaders, climate and clean energy initiatives, and maritime cooperation.

The President said he will also use the opportunity to again thank Australia, which is ASEAN’s oldest dialogue partner, for its unwavering support for the rule of law, for the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the 2016 Arbitral Award, made through its statements of support, and capacity-building and academic initiatives to mainstream appreciation of international law.

“This administration will continue to ensure that our constructive engagements with ASEAN, our external partners, and stakeholders, will best serve our national interest, inasmuch as we promote the region’s peace, stability, security, and prosperity, for the well-being of the Filipino people and all our region,” Marcos added.

MEETINGS

The President said another highlight of his visit are bilateral meetings with the Prime Ministers of Cambodia and New Zealand, and meetings with the Filipino community in Melbourne to thank them for their support and update them on the developments in the country.

Marcos will also attend the Philippine Business Forum organized by the Department of Trade and Industry that seeks to promote the Philippines as a business hub, and address the Lowy Institute where he will highlight the Philippines’ role as an active participant in world affairs and a contributor to the rules-based regional security architecture.

Another event is to be attend by the President is the launching of the expansion of the Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT), Australia’s first and fully automated container which is a subsidiary of the International Container Terminal Services Incorporated (ICTSI).

Among those present during the departure ceremony were Speaker Martin Romualdez, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil, Acting Migrant Workers’ Secretary Hans Cacdac and Economic Adviser Frederick Go who are part of the delegation.

Other Cabinet members present were Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Presidential Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr., National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, Environment Secretary Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan, Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista, Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez, and Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra .

Others present were Pasay Rep. Antonino Calixto, AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner, and Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gavan.

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