PBBM to witness signing of new deals during Australia trip

FILE: PARTNERSHIP. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese shake hands after the signing of the Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership after their bilateral meeting at the Reception Hall of Malacañan Palace on Friday (Sept. 8, 2023). (PNA photo by Rey Baniquet)

MANILA – The Philippines and Australia are set to ink new deals during President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s visit to Canberra on Feb. 28-29, Malacañang announced on Saturday.

In a statement, the Palace said Marcos would visit Australia as a “guest of the Australian government.”

“Similarly, the visit will witness the signing of new agreements in areas of common interest to complement the already robust cooperation with Australia and expand engagements for mutual capacity building,” it said.

Malacañang said Marcos is also expected to discuss the vision for the two nations’ strategic partnership when he addresses the Australian Parliament.

The Philippines and Australia in Sept. 2023 signed a document to elevate their relations to a strategic partnership from a comprehensive partnership in 2015.

The elevation of ties aims to deepen Manila and Canberra’s collaboration in a wide range of areas aimed at bringing a “more dynamic, cooperative, and prosperous future” to both countries.

During his visit to Australia, Marcos will also hold separate meetings with Australian senior officials to have “constructive discussions on defense and security, trade, investments, people-to-people exchanges, multilateral cooperation, and regional issues,” the Palace said.

The Philippines and Australia will celebrate the 78th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in November this year.

Australia is the Philippines’ second largest partner in defense and security and one of only two bilateral partners with whom it maintains a status of Visiting Forces Agreement.

As of 2022, about 408,000 Filipinos and Australians of Filipino descent call Australia their home, making them the fifth-largest migrant community in the country.