MANILA, Philippines: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday left Manila for a "guest of government" visit to Australia, on the invitation of Canberra Governor General David Hurley.
Marcos' plane departed from Villamor Airbase in Pasay City at 8 a.m.
The President is expected to address on Thursday, February 29, the Australian Parliament to discuss the vision for the Philippines and Australia's strategic partnership.
During a pre-departure briefing, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Teresita Daza said the visit "is envisioned to further cement the strategic partnership that reaffirmed the two countries' shared interest in regional prosperity and peace."
"The President's visit and official activities in Canberra shall further strengthen existing bonds of cooperation and shall enable discussions for new avenues of collaboration, as both the Philippines and Australia look forward to celebrating the 78th anniversary of diplomatic relations later this year," Daza said.
Daza said the President will return to the Philippines after his visit to Canberra and will fly back to Australia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Australia Special Summit on March 4 to 6.
Marcos will be the first Philippine President to speak before the Australian Parliament.
He will also have a formal exchange of views and insights on various areas of cooperation and regional issues with Australian senior officials, including Governor General Hurley, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and other Australian Parliamentary leaders.
Daza said Marcos will join other world leaders who have spoken before Australian Parliament that included United States President George W. Bush, President Barack Obama, Hu Jintao of the People's Republic of China, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
"So, it will be very significant, it will be an opportunity for both – for the President to discuss the close and enduring relations between the two countries but at the same time see how we can actually explore areas to further deepen the relations," she said.