MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos arrived from what he described as a “very productive” visit to New York, which saw him call for peaceful resolution of disputes, promote the Philippines’ bid for the United Nations Security Council and sell the country as an investment destination.
The plane carrying Marcos and his delegation arrived on Wednesday at 11:29 p.m., officially ending the President’s 41st foreign trip since assuming office in 2022.
Marcos said his engagements in the UN and other multilateral fora complement ongoing efforts to enrich bilateral relations with countries around the world.
The country also aims to enhance regional solidarity, chiefly through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, he added.
“It is good to be now already on the tail end of a very productive working visit here in New York in the United States with the Philippine delegation,” the President said before departing for the Philippines.
“As we end our visit to New York, we will continue to serve our nation with new knowledge, methods and the partnerships we (forged) while we are here,” he added.
During the visit, Marcos delivered the Philippines’ national statement at the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women and argued that a nation’s true progress is gauged by the empowerment and status of its women.
He also delivered a speech during the special session of the UN General Assembly, where he highlighted the essence of rule of law, multilateralism and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
Marcos also sought support for the Philippines’ candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the term 2027-2028, saying the country could provide a voice for the Indo-Pacific, including developing and middle-income countries and climate-vulnerable nations.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said the Philippines has allocated P20.785 million for its campaign for a non-permanent seat, which will be decided upon in an election on June 3.
Marcos also met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres; officials of the US Medical Glove, which aims to construct a manufacturing facility in the Philippines that could generate more than 2,000 jobs, and senior leaders of J.P. Morgan.