President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has expressed his intention to expand the scope of cooperation between the Philippines and Saudi Arabia, building on their already successful collaboration, according to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).
During a farewell call with Saudi Arabia Ambassador Hisham Sultan Abdullah Alqahtani on Thursday, President Marcos highlighted the strong and productive relationship between the two nations.
“Our relationship with your country is as strong as ever, and I believe it will continue to grow. We have initiated many projects during my presidency, and I look forward to deepening our cooperation with the kingdom,” President Marcos stated.
The President emphasized the fruitful discussions he had with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud and other officials, which covered key issues and reinforced the “very good partnership” between the countries. He also acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s influential role in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which has been instrumental in supporting peace efforts in Mindanao.
“We are making significant progress towards establishing an autonomous region with elected parliament members. Saudi Arabia, along with the OIC, has been incredibly supportive of our efforts,” President Marcos noted.
Ambassador Alqahtani thanked President Marcos for the meeting and praised the strong bilateral relations that have developed over his three-and-a-half-year tenure. He recognized the vital contributions of Filipino workers to Saudi Arabia’s development over the past 40 years.
“We will always remember the role Filipinos have played in our development. Our relationship is built on mutual interests and cooperation. We appreciate the support of His Excellency, the government, and the DFA in our work, especially with international organizations,” Alqahtani said.
As Saudi Arabia prepares to host the World Cup in 2030, Alqahtani mentioned the kingdom’s need for skilled Filipino workers to help build mega projects in Jeddah and northern Saudi Arabia, including the Red Sea and rail line projects. President Marcos assured that the Philippines could provide workers, emphasizing the competitive edge of Filipino labor in the global market.
