Bongbong Marcos sees strong partnership with Indonesia

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday envisioned a strong partnership with Indonesia in the coming years.

In his bilateral meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Marcos Jr. noted how the Philippines and Indonesia are “close” regarding geographical location, culture, and ethnicity.

“I think that it’s going to be the strong partnerships that we will make as we slowly come out of the pandemic economy is what is going to lead us to success,” he said.

“That is why we go once again to our friends, to our partners around the world, especially in the region, especially together with what we spoke about the Asean member countries and the common concerns that we share. So, again it’s those partnerships I believe that will keep the stability of all of our plans and what we are hoping to do in the next few years,” he added.

Marcos Jr. likewise thanked Widodo for his willingness to strengthen the bilateral relations between the Philippines and Indonesia.

He also said that while it is his first time visiting Jakarta, he “feels at home” there, expressing his gratitude to Widodo for warmly receiving him and the Philippine delegation.

“You’ve welcomed us so warmly and we have felt the willingness of Indonesia to go into partnership with the Philippines and to strengthen the partnership that we are going to celebrate – the 75th year in two years time and I think it is one of the longest diplomatic relations,” Marcos Jr. said.

“I think we made the right choice and we thank you once again for the openness with which you have received us, and the openness with which the willingness that you’ve shown to strengthen that relationship between the Philippines and Indonesia, which is our hope and it is what we are going to be working for,” he added.

The Philippine President was accompanied by Finance Secretary Ben Diokno and Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, and Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos in the bilateral meeting with Widodo.

President Widodo and his wife Iriana Joko Widodo welcomed Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Marcos at the Istana Bogor (Bogor Palace).

The two leaders shook hands while Iriana gave the Philippine First Lady flowers.

Some Indonesian officials then greeted Marcos Jr. after singing the Philippine National Anthem and the Indonesia Raya.

After that, Marcos Jr. signed the guestbook at Indonesia’s Presidential Palace.

Among the activities during Marcos Jr.’s visit to the Istana Bogor include veranda talks and the tree planting in which Marcos planted Pohon Kayu Ulin.

The Philippines is expected to sign agreements to further boost ties with Indonesia and Singapore during Marcos Jr.’s inaugural state visits to the two Southeast Asian nations which started Sunday, September 4.

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READ: Marcos leaves for Indonesia, Singapore

Marcos Jr. is currently on the second day of his three-day (September 4-6) state visit to Indonesia.

He will then proceed to Singapore to meet President Halimah Yacob and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. His Singapore visit is slated from September 6-7.

KGA/abc