PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. is set to leave today for his two-day state visit to Brunei Darussalam.
The May 28 to 29 visit aims to strengthen ties between the two countries boost cooperation especially in economy and trade.
From Brunei, the President will proceed to Singapore for his a visit from May 30 to 31, which will be highlighted by his address before the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue.
First Lady Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos will accompany the President, along with other Cabinet members, during the visit to Brunei and Singapore, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
Vice President Sara Duterte is expected to head the caretaker committee with the support of Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, while the President is abroad.
In Brunei, Marcos is set to meet with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and the Filipino community and attend a business forum.
The DFA, in a pre-departure briefing in Malacañang last week, said government wants to focus on economic cooperation, noting Brunei is not just a powerhouse in energy but is also also a good market for the Philippines.
Memorandums of understanding in the areas of agriculture, food security, maritime cooperation, and tourism, among others, are expected to be signed during the state visit.
Marcos will update the Filipino community on developments in the Philippines and thank them for their contributions to the country.
In the business forum, Marcos will invite Brunei businessmen to invest in the Philippines.
The President’s working visit to Singapore is on the invitation of former Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong.
Marcos will address the ISS Shangri-La Dialogue which has been described as Asia’s premier defense summit while in Singapore.
DFA spokeswoman Maria Teresita Daza has described the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue as a good platform for defense ministers, military chiefs, government officials, and security experts to discuss regional and global security challenges. The DFA also said it will be the first time a Philippine President will address the dialogue.
This year’s dialogue, titled “International Institute for Strategic Studies Shangri-La Dialogue 2024,” is expected to be attended by around 500 participants including defense stakeholders ranging from heads of governments, heads of states, defense ministers, and industry players, from about 40 countries,
Daza, in a briefing last week, said the dialogue is “a good platform” where leaders can discuss issues happening within the region.
On the sidelines of the dialogue, Marcos will meet with Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and President Tharman Shanmugaratnam as part of efforts to strengthen the 55-year-old diplomatic relations between Singapore and the Philippines.
The President will also meet the former Prime Minister and current Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
