PH, Kuwait Agree To Continue Moving Forward, Further Strengthen Bilateral Ties

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano and Kuwait Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah discuss possible areas of cooperation between the Philippines and Kuwait during their bilateral meeting at the United Nations on Thursday. (DFA OPD Photo)

28 September 2018 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano and Kuwait Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah agreed on Thursday to continue moving forward and working together to further strengthen ties between both countries.

Meeting on the sides of the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the two top diplomats said the current momentum in bilateral ties should allow both countries to explore other areas where they could cooperate.

“We had a very warm and productive discussion and both of us are convinced that while bilateral relations are stronger than ever, we should not stop there. We both agreed to continue creating the right environment to further strengthen these ties,” Secretary Cayetano said after his meeting with his Kuwaiti counterpart.

The Secretary said he and Minister Al-Sabah also discussed the planned visit of President Rodrigo Duterte to Kuwait, as well as the peace process in Mindanao and possible trade and investment opportunities for the Kuwait private sector there.

The Secretary said he also thanked Minister Al-Sabah for his offer to provide development assistance for Mindanao through the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, where he serves as Chairman.

Secretary Cayetano also expressed gratitude for the hospitality extended to the more than 255,000 Filipinos working in Kuwait. He also expressed appreciation for the amnesty program that paved the way for the repatriation of more than 5,000 undocumented Filipinos.

The Secretary was accompanied in the meeting by Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola and Acting Assistant Secretary for Public Diplomacy Elmer Cato. END