Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
President Marcos is set to meet with fellow world leaders and business leaders on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Australian Special Summit in Melbourne from March 4 to 6.
Marcos will be returning to Australia for the Summit upon the invitation of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. This is his second time visiting the said country less than a week after he was invited to address the Australian Parliament in Canberra on Feb. 29.
In his departure statement on Sunday morning, March 3, the President said he would have separate meetings with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon “to further strengthen our bilateral relations.”
He will also attend the Philippine Business Forum organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to promote Filipino businesses before other business leaders in Melbourne.
In addition, the President said he was looking forward to the launching of the expansion of the Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT), Australia’s first fully automated container terminal. The VICT is a subsidiary of the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI).
“[It] is a testament to ICTSI leadership as a leading Filipino company in the field of global port management,” he said.
Marcos is likewise set to deliver a keynote speech to the Lowy Institute on Monday afternoon, March 4.
“I will highlight the Philippines’ role as an active participant in world affairs and a contributor to the rules-based regional security architecture,” he said.
“This administration continues to ensure that our constructive engagements with ASEAN, our external partners, and stakeholders will best serve our national interest in as much as we promote the region’s peace, stability, security, and prosperity for the wellbeing of the Filipino and all our region,” he added.
The Lowy Institute is an independent, nonpartisan international policy think tank that provides high-quality research and distinctive perspectives on international trends.
Meanwhile, the President said he was looking forward to meeting the Filipino community in Melbourne during this trip. Australia is a second home to around 408,000 Filipinos and Australians of Filipino descent.
In 2023, OFW remittances from Australia amounted to $301.2 million. — Argyll Cyrus Geducos
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