President Ferdinand Marcos returned Wednesday from a working visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), bringing home a series of bilateral agreements aimed at strengthening ties between the two nations.
The President’s plane landed at 10 a.m. in Villamor Airbase, following his one-day trip, which marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the UAE. He expressed confidence in the agreements’ potential to benefit the Philippines.
“I look forward to the implementation of several bilateral agreements in culture, energy transition, legal cooperation, artificial intelligence and digital economy, the improvement of government activities, visa waiver for holders of diplomatic, special, and official passports, and investment cooperation,” President Marcos said.
During his visit, Mr. Marcos met with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, reaffirming Manila’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.
“At this brief visit, I reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to further strengthen our bilateral ties, progressing towards new spheres of engagement,” President Marcos said.
He also acknowledged the UAE’s contributions to the Filipino community, which he described as a cornerstone of their relationship.
“I expressed the appreciation of the Philippines for the UAE government’s care and respect for the Filipino community in the UAE,” Mr. Marcos said.
“In response, the UAE President commended the Filipino people for their contributions towards UAE’s development,” he added.
The Filipino leader also thanked President Al Nahyan for understanding the abbreviated visit, noting his plans to oversee relief and reconstruction efforts in typhoon-hit areas back home.
The UAE has consistently provided humanitarian support for disaster victims in the Philippines, a gesture Marcos highlighted during his visit.
Before departing, the President extended an invitation to Sheikh Mohamed to visit the Philippines, expressing hopes for continued dialogue and exploring further cooperation.
