New Delhi, Aug. 6 -- President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. of the Philippines, on a state visit to India from August 4-8, on Wednesday expressed sympathy for the victims of the Uttarakhand flash floods and reaffirmed the centuries-old friendship between the two nations.

"The Philippines is on the cusp of upper-middle income status attainable as early as next year. India, of course, can be proud of its spectacular rise under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and the intellectual gravitas, innate talent, and industry of the Indian people rising to become the world's fourth-largest economy, and the country wielding enormous global influence as an emerging middle power," Marcos said.

He said, "First Lady and I are elated visiting thi...