On 30 April, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Olexandr Mischenko began a working visit to Manila, the key element of which was the second round of Ukraine–Philippines political consultations at the level of deputy foreign ministers, as well as a number of high-level bilateral meetings.
The Ukrainian delegation at the consultations was headed by Olexandr Mischenko, with the participation of Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of the Philippines Yuliia Fediv. The Philippine side was represented by Undersecretary for Political Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines Leo Herrera-Lim.
The holding of the second round of political consultations marked an important step towards resuming regular bilateral political dialogue between Ukraine and the Republic of the Philippines after a 15-year hiatus. The parties confirmed their readiness to systematically intensify contacts and deepen partnership at all levels.
During the consultations, the parties exchanged comprehensive assessments of the domestic political and socio-economic situation in Ukraine and the Republic of the Philippines, and held detailed discussions on the current state and prospects of bilateral relations. Particular attention was paid to coordination within international organizations, including mutual support for candidacies.
The parties agreed to intensify political contacts, including by working out a schedule of bilateral visits, as well as to strengthen interparliamentary cooperation as an important component of bilateral relations.
A separate segment of the consultations was devoted to prospects for expanding cooperation in priority areas, including defence and security, innovation, trade and economic cooperation, agriculture, healthcare, as well as cultural and humanitarian cooperation and people-to-people contacts.
Considerable attention was also paid to the security situation in the Indo-Pacific region, in particular in the context of the activities of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and developments in the South China Sea. The Ukrainian side informed its Philippine counterparts about the current political developments in Europe, Ukraine’s efforts to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, as well as the development of relations with the EU and the United States.
The Ukrainian side also informed about Ukraine’s readiness to deepen engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which will create additional opportunities for expanding cooperation with the countries of the region.
Following the consultations, the parties agreed on a roadmap for the development of bilateral relations in the short and medium term, which предусматриє further intensification of political dialogue, expansion of economic, security and humanitarian cooperation, as well as the implementation of joint projects.
During the first day of the visit, Olexandr Mischenko was received by Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines Teresa Lazaro. The Ukrainian diplomat conveyed greetings from Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha and informed about the preparation of his upcoming visit to the Philippines in the near future. The parties discussed the tentative agenda of the ministerial talks, which will cover a wide range of bilateral political issues, including intensification of political dialogue, development of trade and economic cooperation, as well as Ukraine’s interest in deepening engagement with ASEAN.
Olexandr Mischenko also met with a group of representatives of the Senate of the Republic of the Philippines, during which the parties discussed ways to develop interparliamentary cooperation and further strengthen political dialogue.