PH strengthens bilateral relations with Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam; Pushes Trade and Investment, Defense and Logistics Cooperation Amid Pandemic

Left photo: Indonesian Minister Chargé d’Affaires Widya Rahmanto handing over a miniature replica of the National Monument of Indonesia to Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Asian Affairs Nathaniel Imperial, with Minister Counsellor R. Kusuma Pradopo, Head of the Economics Section of the Embassy of Indonesia, and incoming Maritime Southeast Asia Director, Minister Maria Anna Lilia de Vera-Schinazi. Right photo: Brunei Darussalam Ambassador Johariah binti Haji Wahab and Assistant Secretary Imperial during the courtesy call on 15 March 2021. (Photos by DFA-ASPAC)

PASAY CITY 16 March 2021 - Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Affairs Nathaniel Imperial received Indonesian Chargé d’Affaires Widya Rahmanto and Brunei Darussalam Ambassador Johariah binti Haji Wahab in a back-to-back courtesy call on 15 March 2021 at the Department of Foreign Affairs, to discuss the strengthening of bilateral relations especially in the areas of  trade and investment in Mindanao and the BIMP-EAGA region, as well as defense and logistics cooperation as the wider ASEAN region continue to deal with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Assistant Secretary Imperial and Chargé d’Affaires Widya Rahmanto committed to further strengthening cooperation with Indonesia in the areas of maritime security, counter-terrorism, and the rehabilitation of Marawi. Meanwhile, the Assistant Secretary also took the opportunity to reiterate Philippine support for Brunei Darussalam’s current Chairmanship of ASEAN; and both Assistant Secretary and Ambassador Wahab affirmed reinvigorating engagements in various areas of cooperation such as health, education, and the halal sector. END