Canberra, Australia
February 29, 2024

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia met once again with their respective delegations for an expanded bilateral discussion covering recent developments in the Philippines-Australia relations after the elevation of partnership from Comprehensive to Strategic in September last year.

In a joint press statement that followed the meeting, the President shared that defense and security remain a key area of cooperation between the Philippines and Australia. Both he and the Prime Minister agreed to amplify joint activities and capacity-building efforts in this regard.

The two leaders also discussed greater bilateral economic cooperation that will allow their respective nations to withstand shocks, be resilient against economic coercion, and provide an enabling environment for business and labor markets to flourish further.

All the same, the Philippines and Australia look forward to their robust people-to-people ties to drive greater cooperation. President Marcos Jr. noted the contributions of the Filipino diaspora to the economic and cultural well-being not only of the Philippines, but of Australia as well. They are the 5th largest immigrant community in the country.

Three (3) agreements were also exchanged today that would enhance information sharing, capability building and interoperability between the Philippines and Australia’s relevant government agencies in the maritime domain and maritime environment, cyber and critical technology, and competition law.

These agreements are in addition to more than 120 agreements that the two countries have signed throughout the decades covering cooperation in various fields such as defense cooperation, air services, education, research, scientific and cultural cooperation, among many others.

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