PH, BD Foreign Ministers Highlight 50 Years of Friendship in Hybrid Seminar

Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo (left) and Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen (right) during their respective video remarks at a hybrid seminar entitled, “50 Years of Diplomatic Relations Between Bangladesh and the Philippines: Achievements, Challenges and Potentials” on 17 November 2022.

PASAY CITY, 21 November 2022 – Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo and Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen spoke of the strong bilateral ties between their two countries, as well as common international advocacies, in their video remarks at a hybrid seminar on “50 Years of Diplomatic Relations Between Bangladesh and the Philippines: Achievements, Challenges and Potentials” jointly organized by the Embassy of Bangladesh and the Asian Centre of the University of the Philippines, Diliman on 17 November 2022.

Both Foreign Ministers recalled that when Bangladesh gained independence in 1971, the Philippines was one of the first countries in the world to recognize its sovereignty and independence. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were later cemented in 1972. Foreign Minister Momen also thanked the Philippines for its “brotherly gesture” for actively supporting the membership of Bangladesh to the United Nations in 1974.

It was also noted that the Philippines and Bangladesh, both among the most vulnerable countries to climate change, have shown time and again the importance of their friendship especially in times of disasters. This includes Philippine support to Bangladesh in its rehabilitation program for victims of Cyclone Sidr in 2007, and Bangladesh’s generous donation and the deployment of a naval ship and medical team to help those displaced by Typhoon Yolanda in 2013. The Secretary also highlighted priority areas for cooperation with Bangladesh, namely agriculture, health, and information and communications technology.

The seminar was attended by students, members of the academe and the Bangladesh community in the Philippines. Among the speakers were Bangladesh’s Ambassador Borhan Uddin; Dr. Henelito A. Sevillla, Jr., Dean of UP Diliman’s Asian Center; and Deputy Assistant Secretary Maria Anna Lilia De Vera-Schinazi, representing the DFA Office of Asian and Pacific Affairs.  END

The DFA Office of Asian and Pacific Affairs, represented by Deputy Assistant Secretary Maria Anna Lilia De Vera-Schinazi, joins Bangladesh Ambassador Borhan Uddin and UP Asian Center Dean Henelito A. Sevillla, Jr. in a seminar on the golden jubilee anniversary of Philippines-Bangladesh relations jointly organized by the Bangladesh Embassy in Manila and the Asian Center, UP Diliman.