Marcos to discuss defense cooperation with Widodo on first state visit

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Indonesian President Joko Widodo are expected to discuss "multi-faceted" cooperation between the two countries during the Chief Executive's first state visit, which will be in Jakarta.

Marcos is slated to fly to Indonesia on September 4.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Marcos and Widodo will witness the signing of several key agreements in the areas of defense and culture, as well as a comprehensive plan of action that will chart the countries’ bilateral priorities over the next five years.

The two presidents will also talk about cooperation on defense, maritime, border, economic, and people-to-people cooperation. 

They are also expected to exchange views on major issues affecting the region and the world.

Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, is the current President of the G20, a strategic multilateral grouping of major developed and emerging economies. It is also the incoming Chair of ASEAN next year.

The President will also meet with business leaders to promote trade and investment to support the Philippines’ economic agenda under his administration.

Marcos will then head to Singapore on September 6 for a state visit on the invitation of President Halimah Yakob. 

He will have separate meetings with Yakob and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to discuss the close bilateral relations between the two countries, as well as regional and global issues. 

Marcos and Lee will witness the signing of agreements in the areas of counter-terrorism and data privacy.

An economic briefing and business roundtable meetings will be organized, where the President intends to invite investments into the Philippines and create more job opportunities in the country.

The President will also meet the Filipino communities in Indonesia and Singapore to personally assure them of the government’s continuing commitment to protect their rights and promote their welfare as overseas Filipinos. —NB, GMA News