Bongbong Marcos receives Marshall Islands president in Malacañang

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Republic of the Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine in Malacañang. (Photo from Bongbong Marcos Facebook account)

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday expressed his intention to improve the Pacific cooperation between the Philippines and the Marshall Islands.

Marcos welcomed to Malacañang the President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Hilda Heine.

“Expanding on our 35-year bond with the RMI, we look forward to advancing a fisheries cooperation agreement and bolstering Pacific cooperation,” said Marcos in a Facebook post.

According to the President, Heine is undertaking a visit to the Philippines.

The RMI is a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean belonging to the Oceania continent.

As of 2019, there were at least 1,100 Filipinos in the RMI, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Marcos is fresh from his trip to Australia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations – Australia Summit, having arrived only the night before.