President’s Hall, Malacañan Palace
February 22, 2023

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. welcomed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles MP of Australia in a courtesy call at the President’s Hall in Malacañan Palace.

The President and Deputy Prime Minister articulated the Philippines and Australia’s respective positions on various areas of cooperation, particularly in security and defense, and other pressing issues confronting the world today.

The Australian official noted the large number of Filipino-Australians in his country and with the close history and relations between the two nations, he further extended Australia’s interest in taking the relationship forward in terms of strategic interests and other areas of mutual concern.

According to the Australian Department of Defence (https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/media-releases/2023-02-21/visit-philippines-and-thailand), the Philippines and Australia are committed to elevate its relations to a Strategic Partnership, as agreed by President Marcos Jr. and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese when they met on the sidelines of the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in November last year.

Deputy Prime Minister Marles will travel next to Bangkok, Thailand to meet with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. The Department of Defence further stated that Australia is committed to working with the Philippines and Thailand in support of a stable, prosperous and resilient Indo-Pacific region, with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at its core.

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