Marcos Reaffirms Philippines-India Alliance, Eyes Strategic Partnership

NEW DELHI, Aug 6 (Bernama-PNA) -- Philippine President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr said his state visit to India reaffirms the longstanding alliance between the two nations and aims to build on shared opportunities amid global shifts in trade, technology, and geopolitics, the Philippines News Agency (PNA) reported.

Marcos made the statement Tuesday as he arrived at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of Indian President Droupadi Murmu, where he was formally welcomed with arrival honours by Murmu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Well, we used to refer to the Asia-Pacific region. We now refer to the Indo-Pacific region, which is, I think, a correct evolution of that understanding because of the global nature of all politics, trade, and the economy,” Marcos said.

“I want to build upon what we already have now, but certainly to explore the many opportunities that have arisen in the past two years because of new technologies and the changing state of the global economy and geopolitics,” he added.

Marcos and Modi are scheduled to hold bilateral talks and present newly signed agreements between the two countries during a media briefing later Tuesday.

The President’s visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and India.

On Monday, he announced that the two nations were set to elevate ties to a strategic partnership.

Following his engagements in New Delhi, Marcos will travel to Bangalore, India’s technology hub, to meet with business leaders.

-- BERNAMA-PNA