DAVAO CITY — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. emphasized the importance of maintaining strong bilateral ties between the Philippines and Brunei Darussalam to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region during a state banquet hosted by His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah on Tuesday.
In his remarks, President Marcos highlighted the longstanding and resilient relationship between the two nations, which has endured through various global changes.
“My first state visit to the Sultanate is significant amid many global challenges where Brunei and the Philippines share numerous common interests,” President Marcos stated.
He underscored the importance of continued collaboration, both bilaterally and within regional frameworks such as ASEAN and BIMP-EAGA, to plan for the peace and stability of their communities and the broader Indo-Pacific region.
“It is crucial that we bring these partnerships into the modern world. I look forward to this state visit adding new impetus, warmth, and inspiration to the relationship between our two countries,” he added.
During the visit, President Marcos and Sultan Bolkiah witnessed the signing of three memoranda of understanding (MOU) and one letter of intent (LOI) aimed at enhancing bilateral ties in maritime cooperation, tourism, and other areas.
President Marcos described the signing of the MOUs and LOI as a significant step forward for both nations.
He expressed his gratitude to the Sultan, the Royal Family, and the people of Brunei for their warm hospitality, celebrating what he called the “birth of a new era” for their bilateral relations.
The President’s two-day state visit to Brunei Darussalam coincides with the 40th anniversary of the Sultanate’s independence and the formalization of Philippines-Brunei diplomatic relations on January 1, 1984.-PND
