The Australian Defense College is looking to expand its relationship with its Filipino counterparts, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Wednesday.

This developed after a delegation from the Australian Defense College headed by Wing Commander Nicholas Pausina paid a courtesy call to AFP deputy chief of staff for education, training and doctrine Maj. Gen. Noel Beleran at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Tuesday.

“We are really looking forward to the opportunity to engage today. It is very much about the opportunity to expand our relationship. We are hoping to learn a lot,” Pausina said.

Both officers presented issues and challenges that students experience throughout the Command and General Staff Course, where Pausina shared their “dedicated program of training for their students in the Australian Command and Staff College and the areas that they wanted to move forward with.”

“We are very grateful to you for continuing educational and exchange programs. The Philippine Government is very much thankful for the Australian Government’s support and we are looking forward to working with you and other like-minded nations,” Beleran said.

The Philippines and Australia currently have a partnership on training and exchanges signed in 1995 and a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement has also been in effect since 2007.

Last Aug. 14 to 31, the AFP and the Australian Defense Force conducted the first-ever bilateral amphibious exercise between the two services dubbed “Exercise Alon” which focused on enhancing interoperability between participating military units. (PNA)