PH, Mongolia Hold Policy Consultations on the 45th Year of Diplomatic Ties
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Enrique A. Manalo (left) welcomes Deputy Minister Battsetseg Batmunkh (right) of the Mongolian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (DFA-OPD photo)
MANILA 22 October 2018 — To mark the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, the Philippines and Mongolia agreed to strengthen security cooperation, boost trade and investments and enhance people-to-people exchanges and cultural, educational and sports cooperation during the policy consultations between the two countries.
This took place during the 3rd Philippines-Mongolia Policy Consultations, which the Philippines hosted on 11 October 2018 at the Makati Diamond Residences in Makati City.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Enrique A. Manalo and Mongolian Deputy Foreign Minister Battsetseg Batmunkh led their respective delegations in discussing the state of Philippines-Mongolia diplomatic relations, particularly the exchange of visits between high-level officials and the training of Mongolian diplomats by Filipino experts.
To address common global security threats, both sides agreed to work towards the conclusion of agreements between both countries’ defense ministries and national security councils, respectively. The two deputy ministers also touched on law enforcement cooperation, particularly on combatting transnational crime, illegal narcotics, and cybersecurity threats.
In the field of trade and investment, both sides agreed to increase two-way trade through exchanges of business delegations, holding of business promotion activities, and strengthening linkages between both countries’ business sectors, particularly their chambers of commerce. The Philippine side took the opportunity to promote its seafood and fruit products, to which the Mongolian side responded with keen interest.
On people-to-people exchanges, the Philippine and Mongolian delegations committed to work with both countries’ culture ministries towards the conclusion of an Executive Program on Cultural Cooperation, which will serve as an action plan on the conduct of cultural exchanges, such as the holding of cultural festivals in each other’s capitals, exchange of cultural artifacts and books, and the presentation of concerts, opera, and ballet.
The two sides also tackled education cooperation on the basic and tertiary levels, as well as technical/vocational training. In sports exchanges, the Philippines offered its expertise in basketball, billiards, football, as well as introduce arnis to the Mongolians. The Philippine side also sought Mongolia’s assistance in training in boxing, wrestling, and judo.
After the meeting, Undersecretary Manalo and Deputy Foreign Minister Batmunkh signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Policy Consultations, which institutionalizes the regular holding of policy consultations and bilateral dialogue between the two countries.
The Policy Consultations is a dialogue mechanism between the Philippines and Mongolia wherein both countries meet at the Undersecretary-Deputy Minister level to discuss bilateral relations and issues of mutual concern.
The 4th Philippines-Mongolia Policy Consultations is expected to be convened in Ulaanbatar, Mongolia, at a mutually agreeable date. END
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Enrique A. Manalo and Battsetseg Batmunkh sign the Memorandum of Policy Consultations between the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia. (DFA-OPD photo)
From left: Office of the Undersecretary for International and Economic Relations Director Edgar Tomas Q. Auxilian, Office of Asia and Pacific (ASPAC) Director Rhenita B. Rodriguez, ASPAC Executive Director Josel F. Ignacio, Non-resident (based in Beijing) Ambassador of the Philippines to Mongolia Jose Santiago L. Sta. Romana, ASPAC Assistant Secretary Meynardo LB. Montealegre, Undersecretary for Policy Enrique A. Manalo, Deputy Minister Battsetseg, Non-resident (based in Singapore) Mongolian Ambassador to the Philippines Lkhagvadorj Tumur, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General Sarntogos Erdenetsogt, and Mongolian Embassy in Singapore Second Secretary Amardulguun Sandag. (DFA-OPD photo)