4 agreements signed during state visit
PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday said he expects a stronger partnership between the Philippines and Indonesia as the world recovers from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
The Philippines and Indonesia signed four agreements, which were presented to Marcos and Indonesian President Joko Widodo after their meeting at the Istana Bogor in Jakarta.
“These partnerships that we make with all our partners and allies and friends around the world will be of critical importance so that we remain stable as we grow out of the pandemic economy and we work together and help each other to develop regional peace and regional development,” said Marcos who was on state visit to Indonesia, his first trip abroad as president.
Marcos will be in Singapore today for a two-day state visit during which he will meet with Singaporean President Halima Yacob and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Marcos and Yacob will also witness the signing of several agreements.
The Philippines and Indonesia signed four agreements, which were presented to Marcos and Widodo after their meeting at the Istana Bogor in Jakarta.
These are the plan of action between Indonesia and the Philippines from 2022 to 2027, which was presented by Indonesian Minister for Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi and Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo; memorandum of understanding on cultural cooperation, presented by Marsudi and Manalo; agreement on cooperative activities in the field of defense and security, presented by Indonesian Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto and Philippine Defense Senior Undersecretary and officer-in-charge Jose Faustino Jr.; and memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the development and promotion of creative economy, presented by Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno and Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual.
Marcos Jr. said his visit is “fruitful” amid the number of key agreements on politics, defense, culture, and economy.
He said he talked with Widodo about the role the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
“We also spoke at length about the role that we believe ASEAN should play while we faced difficulties, (at) this very volatile time in geopolitics, not only in our region, but also in the rest of the world,” he said.
“We agreed that ASEAN is going to be the lead agent in the changes that we would like to see in continuing to bring peace to our countries.”
Marcos also thanked Indonesia for its assistance in infrastructure programs in the Philippines under the previous Duterte administration and its commitment to continue the programs as well as to “increase the volume and the closeness between our two countries.”
President Widodo, widely known as Jokowi, said the leaders signed a defense and security cooperation agreement, a five-year diplomatic action plan, and agreed to speed up and review maritime borders arrangements.
Trade between the countries had increased by nearly 50% compared to last year, Jokowi said, calling for border trade to be developed further and transport routes revitalized.
Widodo called for a significant increase in trade and the development of trade potentials as well as connectivity in border areas.
He also called for an increase in the export of food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, coconut, and seaweed products; revitalization of shipping routes between Bitung and Davao; and reopening of the Manado-Davao flight route.
The two leaders also committed to accelerate negotiations on the delimitation of continental shelf based on UNCLOS 1982 as well as to review two border security agreements – the revised Border Crossing Agreement and Border Patrol Agreement – to ensure these remain relevant.
The Philippines and Indonesia are parties to the 1982 UNCLOS and are entitled to an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 200 nautical miles.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said the agreement on cooperative activities in the field of defense and security aims to promote more bilateral cooperation in the EEZ to advance the common interest of managing and preserving the resources in the EEZ as well as strengthen maritime security cooperation between the two countries.
The Jakarta Post newspaper, in an editorial on Monday, said the visit would also be a chance for Marcos to lobby Widodo on the case of Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipino on death row in Indonesia for drug smuggling, although neither president publicly mentioned the case.
The leaders share joint security concerns with suicide bombings in both countries, including on churches, in recent years. The involvement of Indonesian fighters in the 2017 takeover of the Philippines’ Marawi City by Islamist militants had also demonstrated what analysts say are linkages between regional extremists.
Marcos was accompanied by Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Finance chief Benjamin Diokno in the meeting. Also present in the meeting were his son, Rep. Sandro Marcos, and cousin, House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
The meeting was followed by a roundtable discussion with business leaders.
Marcos, who arrived in Jakarta on Sunday, met with the Filipino community and thanked them for their support.
He also reaffirmed his commitment to realize his goal of ensuring that the Philippines provides an environment that is conducive to doing business and eventually create more jobs for Filipinos including the overseas workers who would eventually return home.
SINGAPORE TRIP
Marcos will fly to Singapore today for his state visit until September 7.
He will discuss with Singaporean President Halima Yacob and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong the Philippines’ renewed commitment to deepen the countries’ ties, options for advancing economic relations, and regional and global issues.
Marcos will also meet with the business sector as he seeks to harness the potential of the two nations’ trade and investment relations.
Economic briefings, business forums, and meetings have been organized in Singapore to attract more investments and buyers for Philippine exports.
“Singapore has been the Philippines’ top trading partner in ASEAN and the top source of approved investments in 2021. Our economic cooperation with Singapore has grown by leaps and bounds for the past half-century, and more opportunities are just waiting to be tapped by both sides,” Marcos said on Sunday before he left Manila.
He will also meet with the OFWs in Singapore before he returns to the Philippines. — With Reuters
