President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. concluded his state visit to India, calling it a “most productive and constructive” engagement that has unlocked a “multitude of possibilities” for future cooperation. The President’s five-day visit, which took place from August 4 to 8, focused on strengthening the relationship between the two nations and advancing mutual interests.
During a state banquet hosted by Indian President Droupadi Murmu, President Marcos expressed his gratitude and highlighted the significance of the visit. “Like my father before me, I will always cherish this state visit as living proof of our shared desire to draw closer to each other,” he stated, referencing the historic 1976 visit of his father, then-President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., the first Philippine head of state to visit India.
The visit culminated in the launch of a new Plan of Action between the Philippines and India, a framework for implementing the initiatives and agreements reached during the discussions. President Marcos expressed his enthusiasm about the outcomes, saying, “Our meetings have much inspired me that we held today. I look forward to bringing home the gains from our engagements and carrying forward the plans and initiatives that both sides have agreed to.”
The President was particularly optimistic about the progress made in a short time, noting that the engagements covered more ground than initially anticipated. “This has been one of my most productive and constructive visits that I have ever had,” he said, attributing the success to the “enduring closeness between the Philippines and India.”
President Marcos vowed to work tirelessly with his Indian counterparts to bring the newly discovered opportunities to fruition for the benefit of both the Filipino and Indian people. He expressed confidence that the “roots of friendship” between the two countries would continue to deepen and flourish.
