Australia will aim to seek closer ties to the Philippines ahead of an address to federal parliament by the Asian nation's leader.
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Philippines President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jnr will give a speech to a joint parliamentary sitting on Thursday.
The address is part of a two-day visit to Canberra ahead of President Marcos attending the ASEAN Australia summit being held in Melbourne in March.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will also hold one-on-one talks with the Philippines leader during his visit to Parliament House.
"President Marcos is a great friend to Australia, and I look forward to welcoming him to Canberra for his first official visit," Mr Albanese said ahead of the address to parliament.
"Our nations are deeply connected through our shared regional, trade and investment links, but most importantly through our people, including more than 400,000 people of Filipino heritage who call Australia home."
The visit follows talks between Mr Albanese and President Marcos in Manila in September, the first bilateral visit to the Philippines by a sitting prime minister in 20 years.
During those talks, the two nations upgraded ties with both leaders signing off on a new strategic partnership.
The partnership saw both countries agree to step up naval patrols in the South China Sea following escalating tensions in the region.
"We are ambitious for the future of the Australia-Philippines relationship, which is guided by our historic strategic partnership I signed with President Marcos in Manila last year," Mr Albanese said.
The agreement also led to the set up of annual meetings between defence ministers of the two countries.
However, Human Rights Watch's Australian director Daniela Gavshon said the visit by President Marcos should be an opportunity for Australia to raise the issue of rights abuses with the Philippines leader.
"Human rights violations in the Philippines remain rampant. Drug-related killings implicating the police have continued under Marcos, if at a lower rate," she said.
"Australia's Labor government should be especially concerned by the rising harassment and violence against labour leaders and union organisers in the Philippines."
Australian Associated Press
