State Lunch in honour of His Excellency Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr, President of the Republic of the Philippines, Government House
[E&OE]
I acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as traditional custodians of the land we are meeting on and recognise any other people or families with connection to the lands of the ACT and region. I acknowledge their continuing culture and contribution to this region.
I’ve said many times that we are blessed to live and work in such a lovely part of the country — from the Namadgi to the south, the Brindabellas to the west, the Molonglo and Murrumbidgee rivers — and I thank the traditional custodians for looking after, it generation after generation.
Your Excellency …
I am delighted to welcome you and the First Lady back to Australia, particularly as we mark the 78th anniversary of formal diplomatic relations between our two countries.
It is great to be able to reciprocate the warm welcome Linda and I received in the Philippines in June 2022 where we had the pleasure of attending and representing Australia at your inauguration.
Your visit builds on the already close relationship between our two countries.
Your speech to the Australian Parliament this morning underscored the strength and dynamism of our longstanding bilateral ties.
Australia and the Philippines are more than just close neighbours — we are enduring partners and friends.
Indeed, when President Roxas proclaimed the independence of the new Philippine Republic back in 1946, Royal Australian Navy ships in Manila Bay fired a 21-gun salute in honour of the occasion.
Ever since then, our two countries have worked together in a spirit of friendship and Bayanihan. This spirit reflects our shared commitment to peace, security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
Your Excellency …
Australia and the Philippines are partners in a dynamic region.
We embrace opportunities together and we work together to face common challenges. In the face of these challenges our bilateral relationship has grown stronger.
Our Strategic Partnership announced during Prime Minister Albanese’s historic visit to Manila last year will further deepen our engagement on both bilateral and multilateral fronts.
A key pillar of the relationship is our 50-year development partnership — an investment in our shared future.
Our development partnership enhances the conditions for stability, bolsters inclusive and sustainable economic growth and increases institutional and community resilience.
Our security partnership is expansive, spanning maritime, defence, counter terrorism and cyber co-operation.
‘Exercise Alon’, part of Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2023 in the Philippines, was the largest ever bilateral exercise between Australia and the Philippines.
And increasing our economic co-operation with the Philippines is a priority for Australia.
The Philippines is one of the fastest growing economies in Southeast Asia, presenting significant opportunities for Australia to strengthen its trade and investment ties, especially in green energy, resources, agriculture and education, as outlined in Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.
Underpinning each area of co-operation are our people-to-people links.
More than 400,000 Filipinos now call Australia home.
Education has an important role to play in this. Australia hosts more than 32,000 Filipino students each year with nearly 80 per cent enrolled in technical and vocational education courses.
Our new reciprocal Work and Holiday arrangement, which starts in July, will further build those cultural and people-to-people links.
These links are critical.
Australia values our Strategic Partnership with the Philippines. It is a relationship that has meant much to us. It will continue to do so in the future.
We are neighbours in more than name and geography.
We are friends who can rely on each other and help each other.
Your Excellency …
The future between our two countries is bright.
I am sure your current visit, which includes the upcoming ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne, will further strengthen relationships between our governments, economies and people.
I wish you and the First Lady all the best for the remainder of your time here.
[Ends]