Philippines, North Macedonia establish diplomatic ties

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and North Macedonia have formally established diplomatic ties and agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, tourism, culture and education.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and North Macedonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Bujar Osmani signed a joint communique on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York last week.

“This will be the start of a strengthened engagement between our two countries and close cooperation not only bilaterally but also in the multilateral arena,” Locsin said.

With main transport corridors passing through the European nation, Osmani said North Macedonia is becoming a hub for investment in the region.

During the meeting, the two ministers signed mutually beneficial agreement and cooperation in fields of mutual interest, the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

The signing was witnessed by diplomatic representatives from both countries, including Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN in New York Enrique Manalo and North Macedonia’s chargé d’affaires Dushko Uzunovski.