PHL-UK Hold 7th High Level Meeting in London
The Philippine delegation led by Undersecretary Enrique Manalo (4th from left) at the 7th PH-UK HLM. Also in the photo is PH Ambassador to the UK Antonio Lagdameo (3rd from right).
12 December 2017 LONDON – The Philippines and the United Kingdom convened its 7th High Level Meeting (HLM) held at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London on December 04. Foreign Undersecretary for Policy Enrique Manalo led the Philippine delegation while FCO Asia Pacific Director Kate White led the British delegation.
The HLM is an annual political consultations mechanism to discuss the broad range of bilateral cooperation between the two countries ranging from political, security, economic, cultural, law enforcement and consular cooperation.
A highlight of the meeting was the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Defense Cooperation between the Department of National Defense of the Republic of the Philippines and the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The MOU sets out to further strengthen bilateral defense cooperation between the PH and the UK for mutual benefit. Defense Undersecretary Reynaldo Mapagu signed for the PH side while The Right Honourable Earl Howe, UK Minister of State for Defence, signed for the UK side.
The two countries also agreed a Joint Statement of Intent to improve economic cooperation between the PH and the UK. Three sectors were identified to further boost bilateral trade and investment relations. These are in: 1) infrastructure; 2) social development, particularly on education and health; and 3) digital economy.
The PH and the UK also extensively discussed prospects for further cooperation in countering terrorism.
The PH will host the next HLM in Manila next year. END
For more information, visit www.londonpe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/pg/PHLinUK and @philippinesinuk on Twitter.
Signing of the MOU on Defense Cooperation between the DND and the MOD. (Photo courtesy of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office)