PH, Bangladesh Hold Second Foreign Policy Consultations

Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary of Asian and Pacific Affairs (ASPAC) Meynardo LB. Montealegre and Bangladeshi delegation head Secretary Masud Bin Momen, lead the second Philippines-Bangladesh Foreign Policy Consultation at the Meghna State Guest House in Dhaka on 03 December 2020. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh photo)

DHAKA 06 January 2019 –– Four years since its inaugural convening in Manila, the second Philippines-Bangladesh Foreign Policy Consultations was held at the Meghna State Guest House in Dhaka, Bangladesh on 03 December 2019.

Led by Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary of Asian and Pacific Affairs (ASPAC) Meynardo LB. Montealegre for the Philippines and Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Secretary for Bilateral and Consular Masud Bin Momen, the second meeting resumed discussions on enhancing cooperation in trade, agriculture, education and training: and other areas, and on charting the overall direction of Philippines-Bangladesh ties.

Assistant Secretary Montealegre stressed both countries’ long history of friendship as providing a solid basis for expanded engagement. Secretary Momen, for his part, cited Philippines-Bangladesh relations as a potential great example of South-South cooperation.

Following the Foreign Policy Consultations, the Philippine Delegation called on State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Assistant Secretary Montealegre and Philippine Ambassador to Bangladesh Vicente Vivencio T. Bandillo shared the highlights of the second Foreign Policy Consultations, and underscored the Philippines’ commitment to fostering ties with Bangladesh.

The Philippine delegation also included ASPAC Director for South and Central Asia Division Rona Beth G. Goce, Third Secretary and Vice Consul Leo Marco C. Vidal of the Philippine Embassy in Dhaka, ASPAC Principal Assistant Jorge Philippe A. Arjona, Desk Assistant for Bangladesh Princess Sharon Rose S. Satin, and Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Secretariat Acting Deputy Director Atty. Romeo Raymond Santos. The Bangladeshi side included representatives from the MFA and 12 other Ministries and government agencies, Embassy Attachés Marcelino A. Solano Jr., Norma A. Laut-Mamainte, and Lauren S. Arce.

The Philippines and Bangladesh established formal diplomatic relations on 24 April 1972. The Philippines prides itself in being among the first governments to recognize the country’s independence. END

Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary of Asian and Pacific Affairs (ASPAC) Meynardo LB. Montealegre presents a set of cultural publications from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary Masud Bin Momen. (DFA-ASPAC photo)

The Philippine delegation calls on State Minister Md. Shariar Alam (fifth from left). In the photo are Assistant Secretary Meynardo LB. Montealegre (fourth from left), Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Acting Deputy Director Atty. Romeo Raymond Santos, Director for South and Central Asia Rona Beth G. Goce (second from left), and Philippine Ambassador to Bangladesh Vicente Vivencio T. Bandillo (third from left), Bangladesh Ambassador to the Philippines Asad Alam Siam (third from right), Director General MJH Jabed (second from right), and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh Southeast Asia Wing Senior Assistant Secretary Moumita Zeenat. (DFA-ASPAC photo)

For more information, visit https://www.dhakape.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinBangladesh/.