By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
At least six agreements between the Philippines and India are expected to be signed during President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s five-day state visit to New Delhi, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Friday.
In a pre-departure briefing with Palace reporters, DFA Assistant Secretary Evangeline Ong Jimenez-Ducrocq said the number of agreements that will be signed between the two countries may increase, covering more priority areas of cooperation.
“The areas of cooperation actually are very wide-ranging, but we look forward to expanding them even more. We have, I think, accords of six agreements to be concluded. Though the working day is not yet over, so we expect, I think, more to come online,” Jimenez-Ducrocq said.
“So, these agreements range from cooperation in law, culture, science, and technology, and many other areas.”
Marcos will embark on a state visit to India from Aug. 4 to 8 upon the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
This visit is also part of the year-long celebration of the two nations’ 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
Jimenez-Ducrocq said Marcos’ visit to India includes stops in New Delhi and Bangalore.
“The purpose of this visit is to further strengthen the Philippines-India partnership to proactively engage India in all aspects of the relations and seize opportunities for greater security, economic, science and technology, and people-to-people cooperation,” she said.
“We recognize the economic and strategic potentials of India, and we hope to open up possibilities for the future.”
In New Delhi, Marcos will meet with Modi, Indian President Droupadi Murmu, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president and current Minister of Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda.
The BJP leads the National Democratic Alliance and is the ruling and largest political party in India.
“In his bilateral meeting with PM Modi, the two leaders will discuss closer cooperation and economic, defense and security, political cooperation, trade, investment and economic cooperation, and how to further invigorate people-to-people exchanges,” Jimenez-Ducrocq said.
“They are also expected to exchange views on regional and international issues of common concern.”
The President will hold two business events in New Delhi and Bangalore.
“Several Indian CEOs have requested to meet with the President, a number of whose companies are in active preparations to enter the Philippine market as investors,” the DFA official said.
“I think a number of the companies [already have] some investments in the Philippines and so we’re looking to expand these investments from the same companies or to reach out to new companies.”
Marcos will also meet with the Filipino community upon his arrival in New Delhi in the afternoon of Aug. 4.
Jimenez-Ducrocq said Marcos will also meet with the Indian media and deliver a foreign policy address at the Observer Research Foundation.
“In Bangalore, he will again participate in business events. His visit will wrap up with the Kapihan with the Media before he leaves for Manila,” Jimenez-Ducrocq said.
