External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar is on Thursday holding delegation-level talks with Enrique Manalo, Philippines Secretary for Foreign Affairs. During a meeting in Delhi, Jaishankar highlighted that India and the Philippines share a lot including their convergent perspective on global developments and continental developments. He said their talks will focus on discussing how to take both countries' cooperation forward. Meanwhile, the Philippines' Secretary for Foreign Affairs said that India is a priority partner for his country in science, technology, and space cooperation.
The External Affairs Minister 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."
"I truly believe today that we are two countries who share so much, who look at global developments and continental developments with so much convergence and who have so many economic complementarities," he added, as quoted by news agency ANI.
Welcoming Manalo, Jaishankar wrote in a tweet: "Our 5th Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation today will prepare our partnership for the future."
Philippines Secretary for Foreign Affairs expressed his sincerest appreciation to Jaishakar for his invitation to discuss the fifth JCBC (Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation).
"India is a priority partner of the Philippines in science and technology, and space cooperation. We have large diasporas in our respective countries. Especially in the last five years, more and more of your countrymen have been coming to the Philippines to visit and study and to further facilitate the flow of people through increased commercial flights," he noted, as quoted by ANI.
Manalo announced that the Philippines has ratified the updated Air Services Agreement with India.
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5th India-Philippines Joint Commission On Bilateral Cooperation
In an official statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed that the Philippines Secretary for Foreign Affairs is visiting India till June 30 to co-chair the 5th India-Philippines Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) today.
"During the meeting, both sides will review the entire gamut of bilateral relations including political, defence, security, maritime cooperation, trade & investment, health, tourism, agriculture, financial technology and will also discuss regional & multilateral issues of mutual interest," the MEA stated
During his visit, Secretary Manalo will also call on Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar.
According to the statement, Secretary Manalo will deliver the 42nd Sapru House Lecture as a joint project under the MoU signed between the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of Philippines and the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) in November 2017.
"The visit will provide an opportunity to comprehensively review bilateral relations between India and Philippines and to explore ways to further deepen and strengthen them," it read.