(UPDATE) PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was set to travel to Brunei and Singapore to strengthen the Philippines' security and economic ties with both countries, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Friday.
DFA spokesman Ma. Teresita Daza said in a briefing in Malacañang that the President and first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos would be in Brunei from May 28 to 29 for an official state visit, and in Singapore from May 30 to 31, to attend the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue.
While in Brunei, Marcos would meet Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and other officials of the Sultanate.
"The Philippines and Brunei are strong regional partners, are members of APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation), Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area)," Daza said.
In Singapore, Marcos will deliver the keynote address at the annual IISS Shangri-La Dialogue.
Around 500 defense officials and experts, as well as business leaders from 40 countries are expected to attend the 21st edition of the event.
"The Shangri-La Dialogue is an annual intergovernmental security forum held in Singapore and it started in 2002. It is organized by the IISS or International Institute of Strategic Studies which is a leading think tank specializing in security and defense issues," Daza said.
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