MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. traveled to the United Arab Emirates on Monday for a working visit expected to result in the signing of two key agreements aimed at strengthening economic and defense cooperation between the Philippines and the UAE, as well as to attend the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW).

Marcos is undertaking the working visit upon the invitation of UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

During the visit, the Philippines and the UAE are set to seal the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Defense Cooperation, according to the President.

“The signing of these two agreements is a testament to the deep bilateral ties between our two countries, and more importantly, between Filipinos and Emiratis,” Marcos said.

The Philippines-UAE CEPA is the country’s first free trade agreement with a Middle Eastern nation and is expected to expand Philippine market access in the Middle East, particularly in the Gulf region.

Meanwhile, the MOU on Defense Cooperation will serve as a platform for collaboration with the UAE in the field of advanced defense technologies, the President said.

Marcos noted that the UAE is home to about 900,000 Filipinos, roughly equivalent to the population of a mid-sized Philippine province, adding that mutually beneficial agreements will benefit not only Filipinos in the country but also Filipinos in the UAE.

The President will also attend the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, where he will join other heads of state and government in discussions and initiatives promoting global sustainability.

“The forum will endeavor to find solutions to the challenges of the present and of the future, to which a unified approach by the community of nations is required,” Marcos said.

He said the Philippines will actively participate in discussions to address interconnected issues on energy, water, finance, food, and the environment, and expressed optimism that the country will gain valuable insights from other world leaders.

“As we start the new year, the Philippines will further pursue its goal to forge collaborations with new partners who share our vision of a sustainable world, and will endeavor to further enrich our relationships with other important partners,” Marcos said.

“I am confident that upon my return, I will bring good news on the new heights of our friendship and collaboration with the UAE, as well as on the shared vision and strategy with our global partners on sustainability, for the benefit of the Filipino people,” he added.