President Marcos and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet have agreed to strengthen tourism cooperation and rice trade ties during a bilateral meeting on Monday, March 4.
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet during a bilateral meeting in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo from the Presidential Communications Office)
The leaders met in a bilateral meeting during the Special Summit to Commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Australia Dialogue Relations in Melbourne, where the Chief Executive is looking for ways to build the Philippines’ rice inventory amid the current El Niño phenomenon.
Marcos said the Philippines wants to engage Cambodia in trade in agriculture, specifically rice.
“Some MOUs that have lapsed… we really need to look back and engage with in terms of trade in agriculture, rice specifically. When I visited you in Cambodia last time, that subject that we were talking about. We were preparing for this drought. It’s now happening,” Marcos told Hun.
“It caught our attention. We really should look into it. Something that is necessary now. That’s the lesson learned from pandemic. We really have to be flexible in looking to our suppliers,” he added.
Although the Philippines is already actively improving its palay production, Marcos underscored the need to import rice to secure its rice inventory.
In a Facebook post, the President shared about his meeting with the prime minister.
“It’s always a compelling discussion with a seasoned general like PM Hun Manet, especially about our nations’ defense cooperation,” Marcos wrote.
“Together, we will continue to work on maintaining peace and stability in the region,” he added.
Another area of focus for the two leaders is boosting its tourism cooperation through increasing flights.
Hun said he likes to have follow up discussions on connectivity and increasing the number of tourists from Cambodia to the Philippines and vice versa.
“We now have flights, five times, Cambodia to NAIA, possibility to increasing destination... Cambodia to Cebu,” Hun told Marcos, adding Cambodia has just opened an airport in Siem Reap and will be opening another one in Phnom Penh next year.
Marcos replied that the Philippines also has entered into a contract to modernize and improve the efficiency of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), with more regional airports in the pipeline to encourage tourists to come to the Philippines.
“We are also encouraging flights to regional airports. I think that is what we keep hearing, low hanging fruit. I’m sure Filipinos will be interested. I count myself. I am interested to go in... travel in Cambodia,” the President said.
“We have done little yet to explore. I fully agree. That’s for two countries, an advantage for us. I’m very much open for that. We will try to see, when I get back, which regional airports are ready to take international tourists and visitors. And I will be glad if we could increase the volume of exchange… tourism, travelers, and even business," he added.
Marcos is in Melbourne from March 4 to 6.