Philippines President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhawan on Tuesday morning, marking the beginning of his five-day state visit to India.
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were present during the formal reception at the forecourt of the Presidential Palace.
This marks President Marcos Jr’s first visit to India since taking office in 2022 and comes at a significant moment as India and the Philippines celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
On Monday, the visiting President met with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who expressed optimism about the deepening of ties.
“Delighted to call on President @bongbongmarcos of the Philippines this evening in Delhi at the start of his State Visit. Confident that his talks with PM @narendramodi tomorrow will significantly deepen our bilateral partnership,” Jaishankar posted on X.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) welcomed President Marcos with a post on X, stating, “Mabuhay, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.! Received by MoS Pabitra Margherita and accorded a warm welcome. This visit will further strengthen India-Philippines relations.”
The President is accompanied by First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos and a high-level delegation, including several cabinet ministers.
Diplomatic relations between India and the Philippines were formally established in November 1949, and the two nations have since cultivated a growing partnership across multiple sectors, including trade, defence, maritime cooperation, agriculture, healthcare, and digital technologies.
During his visit, President Marcos will also:
- Lay a wreath at Rajghat
- Hold bilateral talks with PM Modi at Hyderabad House
- Witness the exchange of Memoranda of Understanding and address the media
- Meet Union Health Minister JP Nadda
- Call on President Droupadi Murmu again later in the day
- Visit Bengaluru, where he will meet Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot
The visit follows an official invitation extended by Prime Minister Modi and is expected to further solidify India’s strategic and diplomatic engagement with Southeast Asia.
