President Rodrigo R. Duterte honorably accepted seven newly designated ambassadors as they presented their credentials Wednesday as he expressed hope for stronger cooperation with their respective countries.
The seven new ambassadors are Ambassadors Shambhu Santha Kumaran, Republic of India; Claudio Alberto Rojas Rachel, Republic of Chile; Dr. Titanilla Tóth, Hungary, Marat Ignatyevich Pavlov, Russian Federation, Dr. Imtiaz Ahmad Kazi, Islamic Republic of Pakistan; Juha Markus Pyykkö, Republic of Finland; and Ahmed Shehabeldin Ibrahim Abdullah, Arab Republic of Egypt.
Indian Amb. Kumaran opened by recalling that the relationship between India and the Philippines is “centuries-old.” Kumaran stated that he hopes to work towards “strengthening our partnership to help both our people develop and particularly focus on the digital economy and in the context of the current pandemic and the health sector,” to which the President replied that the country is committed to “further enhance cooperation with India in defense, security, trade and investments, and in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Chilean Amb. Rachel disclosed that the Philippines was the first country that “we established diplomatic relations and has been our longest partner in the Southeast Asia. As a matter of fact, next year, we will be celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations.”
President Duterte thanked the Chilean government for the assistance it provided to the repatriation of stranded Filipino seafarers. He expressed his wish to “further enhance our cooperation, particularly in trade and investments, disaster risk management, agriculture, geothermal energy, tourism, and culture.”
Hungary Amb. Tóth shared that she will exert efforts to “deepen our friendship and mutual beneficial cooperation, bring our relations to new heights by emphasizing the trade, the water management, the education and cultural activities.”
The Filipino leader thanked Hungary for supporting the Philippines in the “multilateral fora in line with your government’s policy of non-intervention in the domestic affairs of other countries.” He also mentioned Hungary’s “financial cooperation proposal to facilitate expanded collaboration on water management and other areas.”
Russian Amb. Pavlov assured President Duterte that he will further strengthen the bilateral cooperation between the 2 countries. He also guaranteed that the collaboration “in possible distribution and manufacturing of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine in the Philippines will greatly contribute to continued development of the friendly, constructive relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of the Philippines.”
The Philippine Chief Executive responded that he aims for an “even more robust and deeper cooperation in the coming years.” He also thanked Russia for its offer to supply the Sputnik V and “share its technology on vaccine production with the Philippines.”
Pakistan Amb. Kazi promised “to increase and strengthen our relationship in political, economic, commercial, educational, cultural, and people-to-people contacts between our two countries.”
President Duterte accepted his credentials as he hoped to enhance “our overall bilateral relationships, particularly in trade and investments.”
Finland Amb. Pyykkö cited three main reasons for their re-opening in the Philippines, “Firstly, to facilitate more business interaction between our two countries. Secondly, to strengthen cultural and immigration services here. And thirdly, to provide a more solid basis for foreigner and security policy analysis in this geopolitically important and interesting region in Asia.”
The Chief Executive responded that he looks forward to “enhancing our bilateral cooperation on various areas of mutual interest,” and that the country is “particularly interested” in expanding ties, particularly in ICT, renewable energy, and clean technology.
Egypt Amb. Abdullah stated as he presented his credentials that “I would immediately start working and save no effort in collaboration with my friends and colleagues in your friendly country to make the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations signifying the start of such new chapter.”
President Duterte thanked Egypt for being a home to 5,000 Filipinos and expects “to further build on this as we strengthen our cooperation in trade, agriculture, and cultural exchanges as well as in security and combatting terrorism and violent extremism.” -PTV News Online
