PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. again left for Australia Sunday, this time to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Australia special summit in Melbourne.

Marcos was invited to the summit to be held on March 4 to 6 by Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the first Philippine president to address the Australian Parliament, emphasizes the longstanding friendship and shared goals between the two nations. In his speech, the President highlighted ties dating back to the 1800s and collaboration during World War II. He stressed the importance of the Strategic Partnership amid current geopolitical and climate challenges, expressing confidence in the future of the Philippines-Australia partnership, grounded in common values and a spirit of unity. PRESIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE PHOTOS

"The Summit presents an opportunity to reiterate the Philippines' national positions on regional and international issues and set the tone for ASEAN's Dialogue Partner Summits later in the year," the President said prior to his departure from Villamor Air Base.

Apart from the Leaders Plenary and Leaders Retreat, the two main engagements in the gathering, Marcos is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with the prime ministers of Cambodia and New Zealand.

He will also meet with the Filipino community in Melbourne as well as "promote Philippine business through the Philippine Business Forum" led by Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual.

"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 well-being of the Filipino and all our region," the President said.