Marcos arrives in Melbourne for ASEAN-Australia Special Summit

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos are welcomed by Australian Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Tim Watts and other officials as they arrive at Melbourne Airport, Australia on Sunday, March 3, 2024. (PPA POOL / Noel B. Pabalate)

MELBOURNE—President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. arrived in Melbourne, Australia on Sunday to participate in the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit.

The presidential plane carrying Marcos and the entire Philippine delegation landed at 7:15 p.m. (4:15 p.m. Manila time).

In his departure speech, Marcos said the Summit commemorates the 50 years of ASEAN-Australia relations upon the invitation of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

“As the first ASEAN Leader’s level engagement for the year, 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,” Marcos had said.

He said that there would be two main engagements with the Leaders’ Plenary where the regional bloc and Australia’s cooperation would be tackled.

A Leader’s Retreat will also take place for the exchange of views on key issues affecting the region and the world. — VDV, GMA Integrated News