Marcos: Forging ties with other states best first step forward

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Thursday highlighted the importance of strengthening and cultivating relationships with the other states, saying the transformation of the world economy and post-pandemic recovery depend on partnership with other countries.

He made the remark as he addressed foreign dignitaries in attendance during his inauguration's vin d'honneur at the National Museum of Fine Arts.

"It has become very clear and I think that I may be repeating myself to some of you as I have spoken with you before but I still believe that the transformation of the world economy and our recovery from the pandemic will be dependent on our partners and our allies. And it will be those partnerships that will strengthen that recovery, that will make a more balanced and stable new global environment for us to work in," Marcos said in his speech.

"I cannot think of a better beginning to a new administration than to be able to have determined the partnerships and strengthen the relationships between our countries and that is something that we will work with very very clearly," he said.

Marcos also appreciated the common advocacy of all foreign dignitaries in addressing climate change, saying this issue is "terribly important" as the Philippines is in the most vulnerable position compared to other countries.

"I was especially struck by the importance that all of your countries have come to put on climate change. I believe that it was unanimous that all the ambassadors, all the representatives from the different countries who I have met with have each made offers of help in terms of mitigation and adaptation to climate change," he stated.

"We have seen and it has been proven to us very clearly in the past weeks and months how interconnected the world is now, how interconnected the economies are, how interconnected the political systems are, how interconnected our cultural and educational relationships are. We can only go from here to strength, and to strength, and to strength," the president said.

The foreign dignitaries who attended the vin d'honneur were Brunei's Second Minister of Foreign Affairs Dato Seri Setia Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd, Yusof; Cambodia's Minister of Environment Say Samal; Indonesia's Legal and Security Affairs Prof. Dr. Mohammad Mahfud; Laos' Deputy Foreign Minister Phoxay Khaykhamphithoune; Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia YB' Dato Sri Saifuddin Abdullah; Singapore's Minister Dr. Mohammad Maliki Bin Osman; and Thailand's Minister of Foreign Affairs Don Pramudwinai. 

Also present were Vietnam's Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan; Australia's Governor General David Hurley; People's Republic of China's Vice President Wang Qishan; India's Minister of State for External Affairs Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh; Japan's Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa; Republic of Korea's Floor Leader Kweon Seong Dong; United Kingdom's Richard Graham; United States Second Gentleman Douglas Craig Emhoff; and Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud.

Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See to the Philippines and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, the Most Reverend Archbishop Charles John Brown, also led the toast to congratulate the newly-sworn in president.

"The Filipino people have placed their trust and their hopes in you, the hopes for a future that is prosperous, safe, equitable and just," Brown said.

"I know that I speak for all the diplomats gathered here with you this afternoon when I say that we too, in the international community, harbor the same hopes for your presidency and for your nation and that we pledge our cooperation and our collaboration with your administration in achieving the success of your mandate," the nuncio added.

Like in the past, Brown said there will be challenges in the incoming administration but Marcos brings with him "an extensive experience of many years in governmental service" and his call for unity has resonated deeply and widely with the Filipino people.

"For these reasons, you begin your term as president with a strong note of hope and confidence in the future," the apostolic envoy added. 

Several foreign dignitaries were in attendance at the inauguration of Marcos as the Philippines' 17th president, including Emhoff, Hurley, and Wang. —with Anna Felicia Bajo/LBG/VBL, GMA News