Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Wednesday, September 7 described the state visit of President Marcos to Indonesia ad Singapore a success.
“The rich haul of trade, economic, and security agreements from Indonesia and Singapore is proof that the good neighbor policy of the President yields benefits that fuels our post-pandemic recovery,’’ Zubiri said.
Because of this successful trips, Zubiri deemed the Philippines is ‘’back on the world stage, and we have no better messenger who can project our strength than the President.’
Marcos has embarked on his first overseas trip as President, traveling to Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) neighbors Indonesia and Singapore for official state visits with Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Singaporean President Halimah Yacob.
Zubiri said the President’s success in diplomatic relations ushered in strengthened ASEAN partnerships that would be crucial in the country’s continued recovery from the pandemic.
Other parts of the Senate chief’s statement follow:
“The ASEAN is a rich source of three things we need today: food, fuel and fertilizer. Indonesia is a mineral powerhouse which can supply us with the coal that we need as we transition to a green energy regime. Thailand and Vietnam are the world's food bowls. Singapore is a creative industry and a financial services hub that benefits from Filipino talent.
“Home to 670 million people—bigger than the European Union's 445 million—and with a GDP (gross domestic product) of P205-trillion, the ASEAN is a market we should fully tap. And the President is to be congratulated for choosing our neighbors as maiden destinations of a diplomatic push that serves the national interest.”