PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. arrived yesterday from a one-day visit to the United Arab Emirates where he met with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to further strengthen its bilateral ties aimed forging new spheres of engagement.
The visit was “short, but highly productive,” according to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).
Marcos, in a recorded arrival statement, said his official visit coincided with the commemoration of the 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. 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 said.
Details of the agreements were unavailable.
The President said that in the meeting with UAE President, he expressed the appreciation of the Philippines for UAE government’s care and respect for the Filipino community in their country.
Marcos said the UAE leader, in response, commended the Filipinos for their contributions to his country’s development.
Marcos said he also thanked Sheikh Al Nahyan for understanding that he had to shorten his visit to attend to continuing relief and reconstruction activities in communities devastated by successive typhoons.
“I also conveyed appreciation for the UAE government’s constant humanitarian support for victims of these natural calamities,” he said.
Marcos’ visit was supposed to be from November 25 to 28.
Marcos said he invited Sheikh Al Nayan to visit to the Philippines.
