STATEMENT ON THE INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT AQUINO
The Australian Government today congratulates His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino III on his inauguration as 15th President of the Republic of the Philippines, and His Excellency Jejomar C. Binay on his inauguration as Vice President.
Australia and the Philippines share a warm and substantive bilateral relationship underpinned by close people to people links.
Australia looks forward to continuing to work closely with the Philippine Government under President Aquino on our broad range of shared interests, including in the areas of development assistance, defence and law enforcement cooperation, trade and investment, human rights and active engagement on regional and international issues.
As one of the Philippines’ largest development cooperation partners, Australia looks forward to engaging with the new Administration to ensure Australia’s development assistance is closely aligned with the incoming government’s reform agenda, including in the areas of poverty reduction, economic growth and governance.
Australia is represented at the inauguration by Special Representative Julie Owens MP, Secretary of the Australia-Philippines Parliamentary Friendship Group, and Australian Ambassador to the Philippines, Rod Smith.