New Delhi: Philippines Foreign Secretary Enrique A. Manalo today began his 4-day visit to India after landing at the New Delhi airport. External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar had invited Secretary Manola to co-chair the 5th India-Philippines Joint Commission (JCBC) on bilateral cooperation, which is currently underway in New Delhi.
During the meeting, Jaishankar welcomed the Filipino Foreign Affairs Secretary while he expressed his views on various topics related to trade, defense and cooperation. The diplomats also discussed the need to stabilize the Indo-Pacific region and encourage inclusive multilateralism.
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar said, “I really look forward to sitting down with you today and discussing how to take our cooperation forward. I would also like to express my appreciation for your participation in the Global South Summit.
#Watch , Enrique Manalo, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the Philippines calls on External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar in Delhi pic.twitter.com/NN5K5lxlXu
— ANI (@ANI) 29 June 2023
“I truly believe today that we are two countries that share so much, that view global development and continental development with so much convergence and that have so much economic potential,” the External Affairs Minister was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. There are complementarities.”
I really look forward to sitting down with you today and discussing how to take our collaboration forward. I would also like to express my appreciation for your participation in the Global South Summit. And I really believe today that we are two countries that share a lot, that see… pic.twitter.com/AvFPJMLgjU
— ANI (@ANI) 29 June 2023
Meanwhile, the Foreign Minister of Philippines appreciated the External Affairs Minister of India for the invitation. “India is a priority partner of the Philippines in science, technology and space cooperation,” the minister said.
He further said, “We have massive expatriates in our respective countries. Especially in the last five years, more and more of your countrymen are coming to the Philippines to visit and study and to facilitate the flow of people through increased commercial flights,” ANI quoted him as saying.
In the meeting, Manalo announced that the Philippines has ratified the updated Air Services Agreement with India.
The External Affairs Minister further said, “During the meeting, both sides will review the entire gamut of bilateral relations including political, defence, security, maritime cooperation, trade and investment, health, tourism, agriculture, financial technology and also on regional and regional issues Will discuss. Multilateral issues of mutual interest.”
If the statement is to be believed, the Foreign Minister of the Philippines will deliver the 42nd Sapru House Lecture as a joint project under the MoU signed between the Foreign Service Institute of the Philippines (FSI) and the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA). November 2017.