MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is currently on his eighth trip abroad as Chairman of the Philippines Executive Committee to the Swiss city of Davos for the World Economic Forum
During the 5-day trip from January 15-20, Marcos will present his economic plans for the Philippines in the final months of the pandemic, as well as the sovereign wealth fund’s “soft start”. Maharlika Investment Fund.O
As his scheduled trip to Japan in February will be his ninth, Marcos is on track to beat former President Rodrigo Duterte for trips he made in his first year in office. Duterte made 19 trips from September 5 to May 24, 2017. (TO READ: What was Marcos doing? Courtesy calls, meetings fill the President’s first 100 days)
On all of these trips to date, he has been accompanied by family members who are elected officials.
Let’s take a look at the countries Marcos has been to so far.
First flights
His first trip abroad took him to Indonesia and Singapore from September 4th to 7th, 2022 (counted as one trip).
During his visit to Indonesia, he signed a joint plan of action between the two nations, as well as agreements in the areas of defense and security, creative industries and cultural cooperation. (LIST: Offers from Marcos’ Indonesia trip)
His trip to Singapore got bored agreement on counter-terrorism, information technology, property development, data protection and water cooperation. (LIST: Deals signed by Marcos government in Singapore)
The Philippines and Singapore also signed a joint communiqué on the recruitment of Filipino health workers.
The investments signed during the trips total 804.78 billion pesos, according to Marcos.
In both countries, Marcos met with Filipino communities on the day of his arrival.
The UN General Assembly
Marcos made his international debut in New York, United States during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 21, 2022 (September 20 New York time).
In his 20-minute speech, Marcos spoke about the country to offer a seat in the UN Security Council and expressed his engagement the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Climate change, food security and the war in Ukraine were also addressed in his speech.
Marcos met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, US President Joe Biden, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and various business and economic groups.
He also looked an Eric Clapton concert and the Broadway show In the forest during the excursion.
Pit Stop: Singapore Grand Prix
Marcos and his family made a surprise visit to the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix on October 2, 2022. They claimed that the visit was also involved workOfficials neither confirmed nor denied the trip until a few days later.
He had reportedly met with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. and other government officials from Singapore, Cambodia and Saudi Arabia.
ASEAN and APEC
Marcos was in Phnom Penh, Cambodia from 9-13 November 2022 for the 40th and 41st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits.
In addition to the summit meeting between nations, he held bilateral meetings Brunei and South Korea and spoken with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.
During the Summit, the various member states also published a Five Point Consensus to the unrest in Myanmar, as well agree “in principle”. on Timor-Leste’s membership in ASEAN.
This time he met with the Filipino community in Cambodia after the November 13 summit.
His next trip followed a few days later, this time to the Economic Leaders’ Week of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) from November 16 to 19, 2022. Marcos focused on food security, pandemic preparedness and climate change.
Marcos had the opportunity to meet the Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron.
In December, the President will travel to Brussels, Belgium, for the ASEAN-European Union Summit
Marcos met with various European leaders and discussed topics such as climate change, Seamen’s Welfareand act. (FACT CHECK: Marcos Jr. did not meet with the Belgian king to withdraw $987 billion)
A courtesy to China
Marcos’ first trip in 2023 was a state visit to China from January 3-5.
The most important finding of the trip was an agreement between the two countries official channels of communication to resolve disputes over the West Philippine Sea.
Thirteen other agreements were signed, including bilateral agreements on tourism, trade and information.
Winter Wonderland at the WEF
The World Economic Forum, taking place on January 15-20, is a collect of business and corporate leaders join heads of state and other government officials to discuss how to address global issues and learn leadership and management practices.
However, the forum has been criticized for only serving as an elite platform without any concrete decisions being taken afterwards. According to reports, the Philippine delegation 70 peopleaccording to Vera Files.
– Rappler.com
