President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said the Philippines will send a representative to the 3rd Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Summit in Qatar.

Marcos made the remark as he confirmed that he would skip the third ACD summit in Doha on Oct. 2 to 3.

This, after Qatari Ambassador to the Philippines Ahmed Saad Nasser Abdullah Al-Homidi went to Malacañan Palace in Manila on Wednesday to extend the invitation of the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, for Marcos to attend the summit.

“I warmly received H.E. (His Excellency) Ahmed Saad Nasser Abdullah Al-Homidi today, who personally delivered an invitation from H.H. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to the ongoing 3rd Asia Cooperation Dialogue Summit in Qatar,” Marcos said in a Facebook post.

“While I am unable to attend, I assured him that the Philippines will be ably represented at the event. We remain committed to mutually beneficial global cooperation,” he added.

The ACD, inaugurated in Thailand in June 2022, is a the first continent-wide forum in Asia which aims to constitute the missing link in the region by incorporating every Asian country and building an Asian Community without duplicating other organizations or creating a bloc against others.

During the meeting at Malacañan, Marcos and Al-Homidi also agreed to further strengthen the vibrant bilateral ties between the Manila and Doha, according to a statement from the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).

Marcos also expressed elation over the flourishing ties of the two nations, following the Qatar Amir’s visit to the Philippines in April this year.

“We made a very strong connection, and I think that will be always good for both our countries,” President Marcos told the Qatari Ambassador, referring to the Amir’s visit.

To recall, Marcos and the Qatari Amir met on April 22 to discuss ways to strengthen the political relations between the two countries and exchanged views on matters of mutual concern.

Al-Homidi told Marcos that Qatar is “more happy to be in cooperation” with the Philippines.

“We are more happy to be in cooperation. We work a lot of projects and we try to be stronger on this relationship,” the Qatari envoy said.

Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Qatar were established on May 5, 1981.

Qatar is home to an estimated 242,609 Filipinos. (PNA)