MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah have agreed to endorse peaceful resolution to any conflict between the Philippines and Brunei Darussalam and in the Indo-Pacific region amid threats to international rules-based order.
In an interview with the Philippine media delegation in Brunei, President Marcos said part of the discussion he had with the Sultan on Tuesday focused on maritime cooperation between the Philippines and Brunei.
President Marcos embarked on his first state visit to Brunei from May 28 to 29.
The Chief Executive said the Philippines and Brunei agreed to peaceful resolution to any conflict in the region.
“We talked about maritime cooperation. We talked about strengthening the partnership and streamlining the processes in BIMP-EAGA. It was really more about trade,” President Marcos said, referring to the Brunei Darussalam Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).
“On the diplomatic side, the closest we came to any kind of defense agreement was really a diplomatic document that express[es] the understanding that we both endorse a peaceful resolution to any conflicts between our two countries and in the region,” he added.
President Marcos and the Sultan witnessed on Tuesday the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on maritime cooperation between the Philippines and Brunei, which both sides agreed to further cooperation on wide ranging areas including pollution, skills training, research and information sharing.
It is also crucial for maritime nations like the Philippines and Brunei.
Two other MOUs on boosting tourism cooperation, and on Mutual Recognition of Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) certificates were also signed between the Philippines and Brunei along with the letter of intent to renew memorandum of understanding on food security and agricultural cooperation.
Following the success of his state visit to Brunei, President Marcos is set to embark on a working visit to Singapore where he will deliver a keynote message to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (ISS) Shangri-La Dialogue.
President Marcos said his visit to the Sultanate state would bring tens of thousands of job opportunities in the Philippines. (PND)
