DFA chief to visit Buenos Aires

MANILA, Philippines — Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo will undertake an official visit to Buenos Aires this week to mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Argentina, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced yesterday.

Manalo’s visit to Argentina is the first by a Philippine foreign secretary in more than a decade.

Hewill be received by Argentine Minister for Foreign Affairs Santiago Andres Cafiero on Sept. 13, during which they will discuss the deepening Philippines-Argentina cooperation agenda, which includes: cooperation in science and technology, specifically in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and outer space; technical cooperation in agriculture; trade and investments; and cultural relations.

During his visit from Sept. 11-16, Manalo will also speak about the longstanding bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries in the multilateral arena at the Consejo Argentina para Relaciones lnternacionales, the foremost think tank in Argentina; and the Universidad de Belgrano.

The Philippines was the first ASEAN country to establish relations with Argentina.

“More than a decade since a Philippine Foreign Secretary was last in Buenos Aires, Secretary Manalo’s visit is also a concrete demonstration of the country’s commitment to forging stronger and deeper bonds with Latin America, a region with which the Philippines shares many cultural and historical commonalities,” the DFA said in a statement.