President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and Indonesian President Joko Widodo. (Malacañang file photo)
The Philippines is attracting renewed attention from world leaders as President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. continues to deliver his promise to lead the nation to prosperity and progress.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo's recent state visit to Manila highlights the growing global interest in engaging with the Marcos administration. Widodo and Marcos held cordial, productive talks on boosting cooperation between the neighboring archipelago nations.
Widodo was the first foreign leader welcomed by Marcos in 2024. More high-profile visits are expected to follow as governments worldwide take increasing interest in strengthening ties with the Philippines.
In 2023, at least seven heads of state and government visited the Philippines.
The Philippines is projected to be one of the world's fastest growing economies in 2024, according to financial information and analytics firm S&P Global, after the country's economy continues to show strong recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, with GDP growth strengthening to 5.9 percent year-over-year in the third quarter of 2023, compared with 4.3 percent in the previous quarter.
GDP, or gross domestic product, is a measure of the total value of goods and services produced within a country in a given period of time. It is often used as an indicator of economic performance and well-being. However, GDP has some limitations and does not capture all aspects of human development, such as environmental quality, social equity, or happiness.
President Marcos has pursued pragmatic independent foreign policy and strengthened ties with allies and partners across geopolitical spheres. This sets the stage for mutually beneficial engagements.
Widodo’s visit cemented strong bilateral relations as Manila and Jakarta celebrate 75 years of diplomatic ties this year.
“Our shared historic roots are deep, and thanks to our close kinship and cultural ties, the Philippines and Indonesia enjoy an affinity to one another,” Marcos said in a joint press statement.
The two leaders advanced ongoing collaboration in political, economic and cultural spheres. They witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on energy cooperation to achieve mutual energy security.
Indonesia has also contributed to development efforts in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Marcos expressed hope that Indonesia will continue its interest there to unlock more economic potential and uplift livelihoods.
As co-founders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Philippines and Indonesia affirmed commitment to international law and the peaceful resolution of South China Sea issues.
As the Philippines unlocks its enormous potential, its renewed standing is poised to see more global leaders beat a path to Manila to tap opportunities for cooperation and growth. (AVS/PIA-NCR)
