President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. departed Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Tuesday, July 1 for an official visit to Vancouver, Canada, upon the invitation of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
The president's departure marks what he described as the first official visit by a Philippine head of state to Canada in a decade, underscoring renewed efforts to deepen bilateral relations between Manila and Ottawa.
In his departure statement, Marcos highlighted the 77-year diplomatic ties between the Philippines and Canada, which he said “continue to grow from strength to strength,” particularly in trade, defense, agriculture, and people-to-people exchanges.
“We have seen an unprecedented momentum in the deepening of bilateral relations,” Marcos said, noting Canada’s consistent support for the Philippines’ position on sovereignty issues, including the West Philippine Sea.
He emphasized shared commitment to a rules-based international order anchored on international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award.
Marcos said the visit aims to further advance ongoing negotiations for a Philippines–Canada free trade agreement, alongside broader ASEAN-Canada trade discussions. He also cited expanding cooperation in defense following the 2024 Memorandum of Understanding and the 2025 Status of Visiting Forces Agreement.
“Our mangoes have very recently entered the Canadian market,” the president noted, highlighting growing agricultural trade and economic connectivity.
The president also pointed to strengthened mobility and cultural ties, including direct flights between Manila and Vancouver operated by Air Canada and Philippine Airlines, as well as over 200 institutional partnerships between both countries.
During the visit, Marcos is expected to hold a one-on-one meeting with Prime Minister Carney, followed by expanded bilateral talks and business engagements focusing on mining, critical minerals, renewable energy, information and communications technology (ICT), cybersecurity, and financial services.
He also expressed intention to engage the Filipino community in Canada, which he said numbers nearly one million and plays a vital role in both countries’ development.
“They are our country’s ambassadors abroad,” Marcos said, expressing appreciation for the contributions of overseas Filipinos.
The president added that the visit will help shape a “plan of action” to guide the next phase of Philippines–Canada relations, reinforcing cooperation not only bilaterally but also within the broader Indo-Pacific and ASEAN frameworks.
