President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. flew to India on Monday morning for a five-day state visit, upon the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"India has been a long-valued friend of the Philippines. Filipinos and Indians have had mutually beneficial interactions since pre-colonial times," Marcos said in his departure statement delivered at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.
"Throughout our history, Philippine culture has been deeply enriched by our exchanges with the Indian civilization, which have long influenced our language, our literature, customs, and even our folklore," he added.
The President's visit aims to further strengthen the long-standing partnership between the Philippines and India. Marcos emphasized the steady and stable growth of bilateral relations, describing them as "broad in scope and multifaceted in nature."
He cited the sustained diplomatic engagements, deepening cultural and societal ties, stronger economic relations, and expanding institutional linkages across both public and private sectors as key indicators of the strong relationship between the two countries.
"With the Philippines being the oldest constitutional democracy in Asia, and [India being] our continent’s largest democracy, our two countries share several core interests, such as our democratic ideals, our respect for basic freedoms, and the preservation of a rules-based order in the international arena," he said.
Marcos expressed confidence that the two nations' shared values and interests would lead to deeper and more meaningful cooperation, helping to advance peace, stability, and prosperity both in their respective countries and across the Indo-Pacific region.
"There is much potential for cooperation with India that will mutually benefit our peoples. We intend to explore these by charting a plan of cooperation across a broad spectrum of shared interests: from defense, to trade, investment, health, pharmaceuticals, connectivity, agriculture, tourism, and many other areas," he added.
As part of his itinerary, Marcos will lead a business delegation to New Delhi and Bengaluru, where he is scheduled to meet with key industry leaders—particularly in the Information Technology (IT) sector—to explore potential investment opportunities that can benefit both nations.
"I want this visit to bring concrete benefits to the people, such as more affordable medicine and greater connectivity and food security. It is incumbent upon us, now more than ever, to maximize the opportunities in trade and investment with the world’s fourth-largest economy," the President said.
"I look forward to a productive visit and much closer Philippines-India relations," he added.
RH 14 Leth Narciso reported that President Marcos is accompanied by several Cabinet officials, including Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Presidential Adviser on Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go, and Trade Secretary Cristina Roque.
Earlier, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said that he, along with Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III and Education Secretary Sonny Angara, will serve as caretakers during the President's absence.
