**Summary:**
On August 5, 2025, the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, hosted the President of the Republic of the Philippines, Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., at Rashtrapati Bhavan during his first state visit to India. The meeting served to elevate bilateral ties to a 'Strategic Partnership', building upon a foundation of civilizational contacts, historical ties, and common values. Discussions encompassed a wide range of cooperative areas, including trade and commerce, defense and security (particularly in the maritime domain), development partnerships, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, agriculture, digital and financial technologies, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.
President Murmu emphasized the Philippines' importance to India's Act East Policy, MAHASAGAR Vision, and Indo-Pacific strategy, further recognizing the bilateral partnership as crucial for regional peace, stability, and prosperity. India expressed commitment to development cooperation with the Philippines, including Quick Impact Projects designed to improve the lives of local communities. Both leaders acknowledged shared interests in maritime domain awareness, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, and Search and Rescue operations. The visit, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of India-Philippines diplomatic relations, aims to strengthen the partnership between the two nations.
Key Entities Referenced
Droupadi Murmu: President of India
Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr.: President of the Republic of the Philippines
Philippines: Country in Southeast Asia; key partner in India's Act East Policy, Vision MAHASAGAR, and Indo-Pacific Vision
India: Country in South Asia
Act East Policy: India's initiative to promote economic, strategic and cultural relations with the Asia-Pacific region
MAHASAGAR Vision: India's vision for the Indian Ocean region, emphasizing maritime security and cooperation
Rashtrapati Bhavan: Official residence of the President of India
Pahalgam: Location of a terrorist attack; likely refers to Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, India
President's Secretariat
PRESIDENT OF INDIA HOSTS PRESIDENT OF
PHILIPPINES
INDIA CONSIDERS THE PHILIPPINES A KEY
PARTNER IN ITS ACT EAST POLICY, VISION
MAHASAGAR, AND INDO-PACIFIC VISION:
PRESIDENT DROUPADI MURMU
Posted On: 05 AUG 2025 9:33PM by PIB Delhi
The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu received H.E. Mr Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., President
of the Republic of the Philippines, at Rashtrapati Bhavan today (August 5, 2025). She also hosted a banquet in
his honour.
Welcoming President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. on his first State visit to India, the President said that
India and the Philippines share a longstanding friendship which is based on civilizational contacts, historical
ties, and common values.The President was happy to note that our wide-ranging cooperation encompasses sustained high-level
engagement, flourishing trade and commerce, robust defence and security cooperation, including in the
maritime domain, development partnership, cooperation in healthcare and pharmaceuticals sector, agriculture,
digital and financial technologies, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges. She said that today's
elevation of the bilateral ties to 'Strategic Partnership' will further bolster our multifaceted cooperation.
The President added that the India-Philippines partnership is not only beneficial for the people of our two
countries, it is also an anchor for peace, stability and prosperity in the region. The Philippines is an important
partner in India’s Act East Policy, MAHASAGAR Vision, and in our approach to the Indo-Pacific. She
extended good wishes to the Philippines for its term as ASEAN Chair next year.
The President also thanked the government of the Philippines for its strong condemnation of the heinous
terrorist attack in Pahalgam and for its solidarity and support for India in the fight against terrorism.The President reiterated India's commitment to development cooperation with the Philippines, including the
implementation of Quick Impact Projects, which are aimed at directly benefiting the daily lives of local
communities.
The President noted that both countries have common interests and concerns in the maritime domain,
especially in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, and Search and Rescue - as partners, we can learn
a lot from each other in these fields.
The two leaders agreed that this visit, which coincides with the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the
establishment of diplomatic relations, will help in building a stronger partnership between India and the
Philippines.
Please click here to see the President's Speech
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MJPS/SR
(Release ID: 2152803)