SECRETARY of Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo is currently in Buenos Aires, Argentina until September 16 to mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the South American republic.
Manalo is to be received by Argentine Minister for Foreign Affairs Santiago Andres Cafiero on September 13, when they are supposed to discuss the deepening Philippine-Argentinian cooperation agenda. This includes: cooperation in science and technology—specifically in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and outer space; technical cooperation in agriculture; trade and investments; as well as cultural ties.
The secretary is also scheduled to speak about the long-standing bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries in the multilateral arena at the Consejo Argentino para Relaciones Internacionales—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, Manalo’s visit, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs, demonstrates 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.