President’s Hall, Malacañan Palace
January 10, 2024
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and President Joko Widodo expressed their commitment to deepening bilateral relations between the Philippines and Indonesia during the Leaders’ Statement at the President’s Hall in Malacañan Palace.
“Our shared historic roots are deep, and thank you to our close kinship and our cultural ties that we continue to promote and we continue to allow to prosper, the Philippines and Indonesia enjoy an affinity to one another,” the Chief Executive underscored.
President Marcos Jr. announced the fruitful outcome of Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s visit to Manila, emphasizing the strong bilateral relations between the two countries, especially as they celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year.
Discussions centered on political and security cooperation, with both countries committing to further collaboration based on the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC), signed during President Marcos Jr.’s State Visit to Indonesia in September 2022.
Acknowledging Indonesia’s contribution to peace and development in the Southern Philippines, President Marcos Jr. expressed hope for continued support in building local governance institutions, particularly in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Affirming their commitment to the universality of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as founding members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Philippines and Indonesia discussed regional initiatives.
President Widodo highlighted his support in the fields of politics and security, economy, infrastructure and the strengthening of ASEAN unity.
“I would like to once again thank President Widodo for finding time to visit with us in the Philippines, the first Head of State I have had the pleasure of receiving in the New Year,” the Chief Executive concluded in his speech.
Before their statements, both leaders witnessed the presentation of the signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Cooperation in the Field of Energy, which aims to strengthen cooperation for energy security.
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