MANILA — The Philippines and the Republic of Korea successfully concluded their 7th Policy Consultation meeting in Manila on Tuesday with both countries agreeing to continue working together to reinforce the long-standing friendship and mutually beneficial partnership.
The consultations were held as both countries prepare to commemorate the 70th anniversary of bilateral relations next year.
The Philippine and South Korean delegations were led by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Enrique A. Manalo and Vice Foreign Minister Lee Tae-ho, respectively.
“We welcomed the steady growth of ties into a mature and ever-growing relationship, underpinned by a continuing partnership to achieve mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation as well as supporting the larger region’s aspirations for peace, stability and prosperity,” Manalo said at the conclusion of the meeting.
During the meeting, Manalo said the Philippines advocated further cooperation in consular matters, labor, science and technology, transport and infrastructure, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), energy, health and environmental protection.
Manalo said the two sides also considered areas that could benefit from support under the Korean Official Development Assistance (KODA) to the Philippines.
In-depth discussions also took place on further strengthening bilateral relations and developing substantive cooperation in political affairs, defense and security, trade and investment, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and identified concrete activities and measures for their implementation.
Convened biennially, the Philippine-South Korea Policy Consultation is the main forum for dialogue between the two countries. It provides significant opportunities for advancing effective cooperation towards the attainment of mutually beneficial goals. (DFA-PR/PNA)
