President Marcos will seek Australia's support in upholding the rules-based order amid multilateralism that is "currently very much under challenge."

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretary Daniel Espiritu on Tuesday, Feb. 27, bared Marcos' agenda as he is visiting Melbourne in March for talks with his fellow leaders.

Espiritu said the President, who will be first flying to Australia on Feb. 28 as the guest of the government, will return there on March 4 to 6 for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Australia Commemorative Summit.

"Australia is the ASEAN's oldest dialogue partner. It's also one of the most active or the most dynamic in all fronts–in the political security, economic and socio-cultural pillars of ASEAN," Espiritu said.

"As the first ASEAN leaders-level engagement for the year, the Summit presents an opportunity for us to present the Philippine core position on regional and international issues, and set the tone for dialogue partner summits later in the year, especially in October," he added.

Meanwhile, DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said it is inevitable for the President to seek Australia's support amid developments in the South China Sea, where aggressions are being reported.

Daza said the two countries are sharing same concerns as they are both maritime nations that must ensure peace at sea.

"We have very strong defense and security relations with Australia, and they've been partners with us for a long time, even before the official establishment of relations, because they were with us as partners during World War II," she said.

"So in terms of defense and security, that will actually be talked, will be discussed. But also in terms of what's happening in the region, and what is happening within our region. One issue will be South China Sea," Daza added.

There will be two main engagements during Marcos' second leg of his Australian trip.

Espiritu said, the first would be the leaders' plenary, where they will review ASEAN-Australia cooperation for the past years and propose ways forward to bolster relations.

The second one would be more important as that would give ASEAN and Australian leaders a chance to discuss geopolitical issues affecting the region.

"For the leaders plenary, the President may take the opportunity to find Australia for its unwavering support for the rule of law, and for the 1982 UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and the 2016 Arbitral Award," he said.

"The President may also highlight ASEAN-Australia cooperation on maritime issues, climate and clean energy track people to people exchange and economic cooperation. At the leaders' retreat the President may encourage Australia to remain committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes and to maintain respect for the rules based international order, and multilateralism, which is currently very much under challenge," Espiritu added.

There will be two significant outcomes to be expected during the ASEAN-Australia summit, according to Espiritu.

One is the ASEAN-Australia Leaders Vision Statement, Partners for Peace and Prosperity, which is the outline of the basic principles commemorating the two sides' relations.

And the other is the Melbourne Declaration of the formal partner, which is a partnership for the future joint declaration of both sides.

"This is a more specific outline of areas of cooperation in ASEAN to implement the basic instructions under the ASEAN-Australia leaders vision statement. Now, both documents are still under negotiation," Espiritu said.