President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday expressed his gratitude to the members of the Diplomatic Corps for their continued support of the Philippines’ development agenda and international initiatives.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the diplomatic corps for continuously supporting and working with the Philippine government on its many economic initiatives and endeavors — especially in strengthening our bilateral ties in key areas of mutual interest, including people-to-people linkages, as an important foundation for our strong cooperation,” Marcos said during the Vin d’Honneur at Malacañan Palace.

He reiterated that the Philippines remains “open for business,” aligning its domestic priorities for socio-economic transformation with an independent foreign policy.

“Our independent foreign policy is informed by our development goals and reflects our national priorities. Ours is a proactive policy that is true to ourselves, responsive to the needs and aspirations of our people. Our engagements with the world are geared towards building peace and cooperation and fostering enduring partnerships,” the President said.

“We build bridges, not walls. We forge alliances that are based on mutual respect, reciprocity, and shared goals,” he added.

Marcos also boasted the recent achievements of the Philippines aiming to invite more investors to the Philippines.

The President emphasized the 5.4 percent economic growth of the Philippines in the first quarter of 2025 particularly in the agriculture, forestry, fishing, industry, and services sector.

“We are confident that we will achieve the 6 percent GDP growth target in the coming quarters driven by a steady fiscal consolidation, easing inflation, and progress in trade negotiations with key partners amongst other initiatives,” he said.

Marcos touted the backing of the International Monetary Fund in these figures underscoring the potential position of the Philippines as one of the fastest-growing economy among ASEAN five countries this year.

To further support business and investment, Marcos cited measures like the CREATE MORE Act and the Capital Markets Efficiency Promotion Act, which aim to streamline business operations for both local and foreign investors. He also noted the country’s low inflation rate of 1.3 percent as a sign of economic stability.

Looking ahead, Marcos called for the support of the diplomatic community as the Philippines prepares to chair the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2026.

“Over the next six months and throughout the whole of 2026, we look forward to active collaboration with you as we prepare to chair the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. We have been already hard at work on the preparations for our chairship next year, and we will unveil our thematic priorities in due course,” he said.

The President also announced the Philippines’ bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for 2027–2028, emphasizing the country's legacy of multilateral cooperation and peacebuilding.

“We just finished an election and I cannot stop campaigning. Our candidature is anchored in our country’s legacy in multilateralism as evidenced by our history of forging cooperation and seeking peace. We earnestly hope to receive the support of your respective governments in that field,” he said.

For his part, Moroccan Ambassador Mohammed Rida El-Fassi, Vice Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, thanked the President for the invitation and reaffirmed the corps’ commitment to cooperation with the Philippines.

“The heads of diplomatic missions offer heartfelt congratulations to you and to the Filipino people. On behalf of our respective governments and international organizations, we convey our deepest sentiments of friendship and goodwill as you commemorate this historic occasion,” he said.

El-Fassi said that independence reflects the shared aspirations for peace, progress, and excellence of partner countries.

“Across generations, this commemoration stands as a testament to the resilience of the Filipino people, the richness of their cultural heritage, and the boundless promise of a future founded on constitutional equality, good governance, and justice,” he said.

He added that independence reflects the shared aspirations of the Philippines and its partner nations for peace, progress, and good governance.

“Together, we pursue lasting peace rooted in goodwill, nurtured through sincere dialogue, and strengthened by mutual respect. Tonight, we renew our dedication to those ideals, recognizing that they transcend borders and generations,” El-Fassi said.