Philippines President Marcos Jr. on five-day state visit to India

The President of the Philippines, Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., is currently on a five-day State visit to India, marking a significant milestone in the diplomatic ties between the two nations. The visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of India-Philippines diplomatic relations.

Accompanied by First Lady Louise Marcos, President Marcos Jr. began his official engagements with a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where he was received by President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

President Marcos Jr. held bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Modi at Hyderabad House. The talks covered a wide range of issues, including regional cooperation, defense and security, trade and investment, and new-age technology, reports PTI.

External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar also called on President Marcos Jr., expressing confidence that the dialogue with Prime Minister Modi will “significantly deepen our bilateral partnership.”

Reflecting on the significance of his visit, President Marcos Jr. described it as a “reaffirmation” of a partnership that is growing stronger. “We used to refer to the Asia Pacific region, we now refer to it as the Indo-Pacific region, which is, I think, a correct evolution of the understanding because of the global nature of all the politics, all the trade and all of the economy,” he said.

He emphasized the need to build on existing relations and explore emerging opportunities in technology, the global economy, and geopolitics.

As part of his itinerary, President Marcos Jr. will pay tribute at the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. On August 7, he is scheduled to visit Bengaluru to engage with India’s innovation and technology sectors.

The visit is expected to open new avenues of collaboration and set the stage for an elevated India-Philippines strategic partnership in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.