The Philippines is seeking an "alignment" of development goals with Australia as both countries moved to strengthen their strategic partnership.

That was the one of the objectives  of Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo when he met for the second time this year his Australian counterpart, Penny Wong, in Adelaide on Tuesday, Oct. 10.

Manalo and Wong held a ministerial meeting, along with Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual and Australian Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farell, to build on ties recently bolstered by President Marcos and Australian Prime Minister Antony Albanese.

"The enduring bonds between our nations remain rooted in the values of democracy, sovereignty, and a deep commitment to the rule of law amidst an ever-changing world," Manalo said in his remark.

He said such shared principles are the reason "we navigate the complex dynamics of our region and the world."

"As Strategic Partners, we are determined to seek alignment as we pursue cooperation across various sectors, including defense, security, law and justice, trade and investment, development, people-to-people, and on matters of regional significance," he said.
 

"A whole-of-government Plan of Action, derived from our Joint Declaration on a Strategic Partnership, will translate our shared vision into tangible outcomes," he added.

In regional security, the Philippine commitment is "resolute," said Manalo, adding that ties on defense and security, which span from joint exercises, counter-terrorism exercises, maritime security to capacity building, has now "reached new heights."

"Recognizing the growing importance of cybersecurity in today's security landscape, the Philippines looks forward to advancing our cooperation with Australia in this domain," he said.