PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s state visit to Indonesia yielded at least four agreements in the fields of defense, cultural cooperation, and economy.
The signed deals were presented to Marcos and Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Monday after their bilateral meeting at the Teratai Hall of the Bogor Presidential Palace in West Java, Indonesia.
The first deal presented was the plan of action between Indonesia and the Philippines from 2022 to 2027.
It was presented by Minister for Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi and Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo.
In a press briefing, Press Secretary Rose Beatrix “Trixie” Cruz-Angeles said the comprehensive document outlines bilateral programs and commitments for the next five years on a wide range of areas of cooperation such as security, defense, border management, counter-terrorism, economics, energy, maritime, culture, education, labor, health, and consular matters, among others.
Also signed was a memorandum of understanding on cultural cooperation, and was presented by Marsudi and Manalo.
Angeles noted that the deal would enhance the cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the Philippines and Indonesia and promote a better understanding and appreciation of the countries’ remarkable cultures.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto and Department of Defense Undersecretary and Officer-in-Charge Jose Faustino Jr. presented an agreement on cooperative activities in the field of defense and security.
“Ito’y mag-enhance ng collaboration between our defense agencies, further promote the conduct of cooperative agreements – activities and reinforce the modernization of Philippine military,” Angeles said.
In a joint press statement, Widodo said he highly appreciates the signing of the agreement on cooperative activities.
The Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in the Development and Promotion of the Creative Economy was also presented to the two leaders by Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno and DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual.
Cruz-Angeles described the signing as a new area of cooperation cultivating a common creative economy that “leverages on our respective strengths to foster innovation through knowledge, transfer in industries, including fashion, architecture, digital media, performing arts, music, theater, dance, and creative services.”
