Manalo sees opportunity for Marcos to visit Australia next year
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. may visit Australia next year as its relationship with the Philippines continues to grow.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo said Thursday "there is an opportunity" for Marcos to come to the Land Down Under, particularly during the commemoration of the anniversary of the ASEAN-Australia Dialogue Relations in March 2024.
Marcos and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese already met in person on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting on 19 November 2022 in Thailand.
But a bilateral visit to Canberra "is also possible at a mutually agreed date," Manalo added.
Manalo said the Philippines appreciates "the very sustained the high level engagements with Australia." That, he added, "reflects a strong relationship between our two countries," which are celebrating their 77th year of diplomatic relations.
"And we expect that high level engagements will continue as the Philippines and Australia work harder to strengthen our cooperation in quite a number of practical areas of mutual interest," the country's top diplomat added in a press conference.