Marcos arrives in Melbourne for Australia – Asean summit

MELBOURNE – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. arrived here Sunday afternoon (4:15 p.m., Manila time) for the special summit hosted by Australia for all 10 leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to celebrate the 50th year of Asean-Australia relations as dialogue partners.

The official delegation arrived at the Melbourne airport on board chartered Philippine Airlines flight PR 001.

Before the summit proper where he will discuss regional and global issues with his counterparts on March 6, Marcos will undertake other official activities in Melbourne.

He will deliver a speech at the Lowy Institute, attend a business forum organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), launch the expansion of the Victoria International Container Terminal, and meet with the Filipino community.

He will also hold bilateral meetings with the prime ministers of Cambodia and New Zealand.

Marcos was in Canberra last Feb. 28 to 29 for a state visit where he addressed the Australian Parliament and signed agreements on maritime, cybersecurity and trade cooperation.