12 October 2016 — The Philippines and Poland successfully concluded the 4th Political Consultations in a meeting held at the Manila Diamond Hotel on October 10.
During the meeting, Undersecretary for Policy Enrique A. Manalo, Head of the Philippine Delegation, and Undersecretary of State for Development Cooperation, Africa and the Middle East, Asia, Economic Diplomacy and Human Rights Joanna Wronecka, Head of the Polish Delegation, engaged in open discussions and exchanges on how to strengthen and develop Philippines-Poland bilateral relations in the context of existing defense and educational cooperation, expanding trade and investments, and increasing socio- cultural exchanges through the negotiation of sports and cultural agreements.
New areas of cooperation that were explored during the Political Consultations included agricultural technology transfer on post-harvest storage and processing facilities, establishment of linkages for the verification of driver’s licenses, and the institutionalization of ties between the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM).
The members of the Philippine delegation included DFA Assistant Secretary for European Affairs Maria Cleofe Natividad, Philippine Ambassador to Poland Patricia Ann V. Paez, Executive Director for European Affairs Josephine M. Reynante, Acting Director for Central Europe Ma. Carmela Teresa A. Cabreira and representatives from the Department of National Defense (DND), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA), and the Land Transportation Office (LTO). END.