THE governments of the Philippines and Finland successfully concluded their seventh political consultations on January 25.
The local delegation was headed by Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and Asean Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, while the State Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland Johanna Sumuvuori led her country’s delegation.
During the consultations the Philippines apprised the Scandinavian country on internal political and economic developments and in the region, the West Philippine Sea, and on the outcome of the Asean-European Union Commemorative Summit held in Brussels last year.
Finland, on the other hand, led discussions on European security concerns, including the situation in Ukraine and Finland’s Northern Atlantic Treaty Organization membership.
There, both sides discussed a wide range of issues affecting their bilateral relations, including political, economic, and people-to-people linkages.
Both countries reaffirmed their strong friendship and partnership, as well as their governments’ willingness to work together in seizing opportunities and managing challenges ahead.
The meeting also covered a wide range of issues affecting bilateral relations covering experiences and cooperation opportunities in the areas of trade; education; science and technology; smart, ‘green’ and digital technologies; green transition and clean energy; maritime; immigration and labor; and creative sectors.
Noting that the European state is a reliable, responsive and equal partner of the Philippines, Lazaro expressed her confidence in seeing the bilateral relations advance and deepen further.
