Chamber of the House of Representatives, Canberra, Australia
February 29, 2024
As his State Visit to Australia continues, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. addresses the rare joint sitting of the Parliament of Australia at the Chamber of House of Representatives in Canberra on February 29, 2024.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) highlights the President’s visit and address as significant and historic, as he is the first Philippine President to ever speak before the Australian Parliament. Likewise, his address presents an opportunity for the Philippines to not only underscore the shared vision about the future with Australia — following the elevation of partnership from Comprehensive to Strategic — but also help emphasize the commitment to adhere to the rules-based order of international law, noting that both countries are maritime nations.
Other notable leaders who spoke before the Australian Parliament included United States of America (USA) Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, Presidents Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China, Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan and President Joko Widodo of Indonesia.
In his departure statement yesterday, President Marcos Jr. stressed that he would make sure to acknowledge the strengthening Philippines-Australia cooperation, particularly on defense and security. Australia is one of the two countries with which the Philippines has a status of Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).
The Chief Executive is likewise set to highlight the huge potential in trade and investment that both nations should maximize in the coming years.
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