President Marcos has urged the Australian government to carry on with its active role in ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region as he thanked them for upholding the rule of law.

Marcos said this during his statement at the leaders' plenary session during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne on Wednesday, March 6.

In his remarks, the President acknowledged Australia’s consistent support for all ASEAN-led mechanisms, which is evident in the 50 years of its dialogue partnership with the region.

“We appreciate the evolution of Australia’s strategic approach towards the region from the mere confines of the Asia-Pacific to our now wider common interests in the Indo-Pacific,” he said.

“We thus encourage Australia to continue its active engagement both bilaterally and through ASEAN to ensure the primacy of peace and stability through confidence building, preventive diplomacy, and conflict resolution in the region,” he added.

He also thanked Australia for consistently supporting the rule of law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the 2016 Arbitral Award through statements of support, and capacity-building and academic initiatives to mainstream appreciation of international law.

Marcos likewise acknowledged Australia’s support in promoting the economic welfare of its neighbors as he welcomed its strategic approach to deepening engagement through the four tracks of the Special Summit— maritime cooperation; climate and clean energy; emerging leaders; and business.

The President then welcomed Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, which aims to broaden and deepen the economic ties between ASEAN and Australia. He emphasized that the Philippines is looking forward to expanding collaboration with Australia on agriculture, food security, digital economy, infrastructure, tourism, and healthcare, among others.

In terms of business, Marcos disclosed before the ASEAN leaders that the Philippines has signed the second protocol to the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), which he said, will continue to respond “to the evolving multidimensional challenges” in the business environment.

This year, the Philippines and Australia are marking 78 years of diplomatic relationship. In September 2023, both countries agreed to elevate their comprehensive relationship to a strategic partnership, leading to the two nations’ conduct of the first bilateral maritime exercises over the West Philippine Sea in November last year.