President Marcos’ two-leg visit to Australia is seen to advance both maritime nations’ relations, particularly in the fields of defense and security, as he arrived in Canberra on Wednesday night (local time).

Marcos was welcomed by Australian officials, including Australian Ambassador to Manila HK Yu, when his plane landed at around 7:20 p.m. (4:11 p.m. Manila time).

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also posted a photo of him; his partner, Jodie Haydon; Marcos; and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos as the Australian leader welcomed his fellow leader.

Marcos is in the Australian capital until Feb. 29 as the "guest of the government." Then on March 6, he will fly to Melbourne for another engagement.

The President's first-leg of visit—aptly called a state visit by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)—is focused on advancing ties between the two nations.

The most anticipated part of his agenda is his address before the Australian Parliament, the first for a Philippine president, that will allow him to expound Manila's commitments with Canberra.

Marcos will also sign three agreements that will expand the country's "wide-ranging cooperation" with Australia.

He and Albanese, who invited him to visit, will also follow through the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) that they both tackled when the latter flew to Manila in September.

"I will make sure to acknowledge the ever-growing relations on defense and security with one of our only two Status of Visiting Forces partners as highlighted last year by the success of Exercise Alon and the Maritime Cooperative Activity," Marcos said in his departure speech.

Marcos will be back in Australia on March 6 to 8. But that time, it will be for multilateral engagements.

His second-leg will be his participation in the ASEAN-Australia Commemorative Summit, where he will discuss with his fellow leaders the status of the two sides' relations and regional developments.

The summit will be important for ASEAN as Australia is the regional bloc's longest dialogue partner as well as for the Philippines itself because both countries are maritime nations.

President Marcos will seek Australia's support in upholding the rules-based order amid multilateralism that is "currently very much under challenge," Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Daniel Espiritu on Tuesday, Feb. 27, said.

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.

"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.

Marcos' second-leg of visit will also include meeting with the Filipino communities; wooing Australian investors at a business forum; delivering a keynote remark at the Lowy Institute to highlight the Philippine role as an active participant in world affairs, and sitting down with Cambodian and New Zealand leaders for bilateral talks.