MANILA: Key agreements on defense, culture and other areas of cooperation will be signed during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s state visit to Indonesia and Singapore.
In his Sept. 4 to 6 trip to Indonesia, Marcos and President Joko Widodo will witness the signing of agreements on defense, culture, as well as the comprehensive Plan of Action that will chart the two nations’ bilateral priorities over the next five years.
Agreements on counter-terrorism and data privacy will then be signed with Singapore during the chief executive’s meeting with Singaporean leaders from Sept. 6 to 7.
This will be Marcos’ first state visit since he assumed office in June.
“His first state visit as President will be to Indonesia from 4 to 6 September 2022 upon the invitation of Indonesian President Joko Widodo,” the DFA said Thursday.
“The visit will be highlighted by the first meeting between the two leaders who are expected to discuss the two countries’ active and multi-faceted cooperation on defense, maritime, border, economic, and people-to-people cooperation,” it added.
Widodo and Marcos will also exchange views on major issues affecting the region and the world.
In addition, Marcos will meet with business leaders to promote trade and investment to support the country’s economic agenda.
Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, is the current President of the G20, a strategic multilateral grouping of major developed and emerging economies.
It is the incoming chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 2023.
After his Indonesia trip, Marcos will have separate meetings with Singapore President Halimah Yakob and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to discuss the close bilateral relations between the two countries, as well as regional and global issues.
Marcos will witness with Lee the signing of Singapore-Philippines agreements.
“As Singapore is a key trade and investment partner of the Philippines, an economic briefing and business roundtable meetings will be organized, where the President intends to invite investments into the Philippines and create more job opportunities in the country,” the DFA said.
In both countries, Marcos will meet the Filipino communities to personally assure them of the government’s continuing commitment to protect their rights and promote their welfare as overseas Filipinos.
The agency said these visits demonstrate the importance the Philippines places on relations with fellow Asean neighbors.”
