Indonesia and Philippines heads talks on pandemic recovery challenges in Jakarta's presidential palace in Bogor

Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Philippines' president, left, and Joko Widodo, Indonesia's president, inspect a guard of honor at the Bogor Presidential Palace in Bogor, Indonesia, on Monday, Sep. 5, 2022. Marcos Jr is making state visits to Indonesia and Singapore. - Bloomberg

BOGOR, Sept 5 (AP): Philippine leader Ferdinand Marcos Jr affirmed deepening economic and security ties with Indonesia on Monday during the first overseas trip of his presidency, while expressing concern about the persistent difficulties Southeast Asian nations have faced after pandemic.

Indonesia is the region's largest economy and a traditional first diplomatic destination for new leaders in the 10-member Association of South-East Asia Nations (Asean).