Study Room, Malacañan Palace
January 14, 2025

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. talked with Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita in a courtesy call at the Study Room in Malacañan Palace.

The President welcomed the intention to elevate relations between the Philippines and India to a bilateral partnership given the current geopolitical condition, noting that the interactions between the two countries have increased in the past few years.

“Well, the plan to elevate the bilateral relations is very interesting because in terms of geopolitical issues. Whereas we used to speak of Pacific or Asia Pacific. It’s now Indo-Pacific. And that’s why I think that the alliances and the partnerships that we make become more and more important,” he stated.

For his part, Minister Margherita conveyed deep regards and respect from the people of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“It is a milestone that we have to mark our 75th year of diplomatic relations of our great nations,” the Indian Minister said. Formal diplomatic relations between the Philippines and India were established on 16 November 1949.

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