PBBM to sign key agreements in Singapore, Indonesia visits

During President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s state visit to Indonesia and Singapore, significant agreements on defense, culture, and other areas of cooperation will be signed.
Marcos and President Joko Widodo will witness the signing of agreements on defense, culture, as well as the comprehensive Plan of Action that will outline the two countries’ bilateral priorities over the next five years, during their trip to Indonesia from September 4 to 6.

Then, on September 6 and 7, the chief executive will meet with Singaporean leaders to finalize agreements on counterterrorism and data privacy.

Marcos will be making his first official state visit since taking office in June.

“His first state visit as President will be to Indonesia from 4 to 6 September 2022 upon the invitation of Indonesian President Joko Widodo,” the DFA said Thursday.

“The visit will be highlighted by the first meeting between the two leaders who are expected to discuss the two countries’ active and multi-faceted cooperation on defense, maritime, border, economic, and people-to-people cooperation,” it added.

Additionally, Widodo and Marcos will discuss important concerns that the world and the region are currently facing.

Marcos will also meet with business executives to encourage trade and investment in support of the nation’s economic plan.

The largest economy in Southeast Asia, Indonesia, is now serving as the G20’s president. The G20 is a strategic multinational alliance of significant established and developing economies.

In 2023, it will hold the presidency of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Following his visit to Indonesia, Marcos will meet separately with the leaders of Singapore, Halimah Yakob and Lee Hsien Loong, to discuss their country’s tight bilateral ties as well as other regional and international concerns.

Lee and Marcos will be present when agreements between Singapore and the Philippines are signed.

“As Singapore is a key trade and investment partner of the Philippines, an economic briefing and business roundtable meetings will be organized, where the President intends to invite investments into the Philippines and create more job opportunities in the country,” the DFA said.

Marcos will personally meet with the Filipino communities in both nations to reassure them of the government’s ongoing commitment to uphold their rights and advance their welfare as Filipinos living abroad.

The agency said these visits demonstrate the importance the Philippines places on relations with fellow Asean neighbors.