SECRETARY of Foreign Affairs (SFA) Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. recently received the Republic of Chile’s Ambassador-designate to the Philippines Claudio Alberto Rojas Rachel, who succeeded Ambassador José Miguel Capdevila Villarroel.
Locsin and Rojas evaluated the state of Philippine-Chilean relations, including preparations to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations between the two countries in 2021, as well as the local hosting of the sixth Philippine-Chile bilateral consultations to be held also in the same year.
Both officials reaffirmed their commitments to further boost cooperation in key areas including trade and investment, disaster-risk management, agriculture and people-to-people relations. The diplomats also took the opportunity to discuss important regional and multilateral developments at the United Nations, Asean, Apec and the Pacific Alliance, on various issues such as human rights, and also development cooperation.
The SFA and the Chilean envoy expressed optimism in their shared desire to deepen overall ties as well as intensify two-way cooperation, including expanding economic opportunities between the Philippines and Chile.
Undersecretary Brigido D. Dulay, Assistant Secretary Maria Lumen B. Isleta and Special Assistant Therese R. Cantada joined the secretary for the meeting.
Russian diplomat bids farewell
A FEW days prior, Igor Anatolyevich Khovaev, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Philippines, paid a farewell call on Locsin at the Department of Foreign Affairs headquarters.
The SFA expressed his appreciation to Khovaev for his contribution to the enhancement of Philippines-Russia relations.
During the ambassador’s tenure, the Philippines witnessed a reinvigoration of bilateral ties with Russia, as the former sought to deepen ties with nontraditional partners.
Along with increasing bilateral engagements and people-to-people partnerships, several agreements were signed between the Philippines and Russia in the areas of trade and economy, science and technology, nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, space sciences, nuclear medicine, basic research, legal and judicial cooperation, defense cooperation, and culture.
Joining the call were Mesdames Ma. Lourdes B. Locsin and Maria Ilina. Madame Locsin thanked Madame Ilina for the latter’s active involvement in various social and charitable activities, as well as diplomats’ spouses’ initiatives. The latter expressed her gratitude for the warmth and hospitality accorded to them during their stay, including the generous support they received for the activities initiated by the Russian Embassy.
Khovaev ends this month his five-year tour of duty as Russia’s top diplomat in the country. DFA
Image credits: DFA-OSCR Nilo K. Palaya