By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday said he had a meaningful phone conversation with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon regarding ways to strengthen collaboration for a “free and fair” trade.
Marcos on Thursday night posted on Facebook a photo of himself talking to Luxon over the phone.
“Maganda at makabuluhan ang naging pag-uusap namin ni PM Christopher Luxon ngayong hapon tungkol sa mga kaganapan sa larangan ng kalakalan,” Marcos said.
“Patuloy ang matatag nating ugnayan at pagtutulungan para sa kapayapaan at kaunlaran ng ating rehiyon,” he added.
In a post on X, Luxon said he sees Marcos as New Zealand’s “important partner” in Southeast Asia.
Luxon, who has been advocating for free trade, said it is “good to reconnect” with Marcos.
“We discussed how we can continue to work together to support free and fair trade. We also checked in on the great work that our two countries are doing to take our relationship forward,” he said.
During Luxon’s visit to the Philippines in April 2024, he and Marcos expressed their intent to increase the trade between the two countries by at least 50% in the next few years.
In 2023, New Zealand ranked as the Philippines’ 28th trading partner, with total trade amounting to $495.37 million, according to government data.
New Zealand is also the Philippines’ 38th export destination and 24th import source in the same year.
