21 February 2014 - The Philippines hosted the 2nd Philippines-South Africa Bilateral Consultative Forum (BCF) on February 10 at the C.P. Garcia Hall, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Building, Pasay City.
The Philippine delegation was headed by DFA Assistant Secretary for Middle East and African Affairs Petronila P. Garcia while Dr. Anil Sooklal, Deputy Director General for Asia and the Middle East of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation headed the South African delegation.
"The Philippine hosting of the 2nd Philippines-South Africa Bilateral Consultative Forum is a confirmation of strengthening relations between the Philippines and South Africa and that the Philippines is committed to engage South Africa especially in the economic arena," Assistant Secretary Garcia said.
The 2nd Philippines-South Africa BCF followed up on the results of the 1st Philippines-South Africa BCF held on 30 January 2013 in Pretoria, South Africa, and the commitments made during the official working visit of DFA Undersecretary for International Economic Relations Laura Q. del Rosario to South Africa last year. The meeting discuss several proposed bilateral cooperation in the fields of education, medical tourism, agriculture, importation of agricultural products, such as citrus fruits, and air services agreement.
The meeting was also an opportunity to personally thank the South African Government for sending two rescue teams that assisted in the disaster relief efforts and delivered food, medicine and other equipment to the victims of Typhoon Yolanda. END
