Ros Manlangit, director for public affairs of the Department of National Defense (DND), said that Cruz left last Saturday night for a two-day visit to Canberra, Australia where he will meet Senator Robert Hill.

He said Cruz will also discuss security issues concerning Australia and the Philippines during his meeting with General Peter Cosgrove, chief of the Australian Defense Force; and Australian Defense Secretary Ric Smith.

Afterwards, Cruz will proceed to Wellington, New Zealand to meet Defense Minister Mark Burton and New Zealand Foreign Minister Phil Goff.

Manlangit said that the Philippines has an existing defense cooperation agreement with the Australian government that was signed by defense officials of the two countries in 1995.

He added that Cruz is hoping that they can forge new agreements focused in the areas of providing mutual access by each other’s personnel to other’s defense equipment, joint trainings, and military science and technology.