Philippines and Argentina Hold 5th Bilateral Consultation Meeting

Renewal of the Agreement on Cultural Cooperation by an Exchange of Notes with Undersecretary Lazaro and Undersecretary Rozencwaig.

MANILA 26 April 2023 – The Philippines and Argentina reaffirmed their enduring friendship during the 5th Bilateral Consultation Meeting (BCM) held in Manila on 25 April 2023, the first in-person meeting since the start of the pandemic.

DFA Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs, Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, together with her Argentine counterpart, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Foreign Policy Claudio Javier Rozencwaig, chaired and led their respective delegations to the meeting. The two sides held robust discussions on an agenda that included bilateral trade relations, regional and global developments, exchanges in the maritime sphere, as well as cooperation in the agricultural, scientific, and cultural fields.

Undersecretaries Lazaro and Rozencwaig underscored the importance of elevating bilateral relations by embracing a more diverse, forward-looking cooperation agenda. Included here is Argentina’s willingness to share its considerable expertise in agricultural technology and experience in nuclear energy, being the first Latin American country to develop its own commercial nuclear energy reactor in the 1970s.

For its part, the Philippine side gave a broad briefing on the various incentives given to foreign companies looking to establish an investment presence in the country’s economic zones. At least two Argentine companies already have operations in the Philippines.

A highlight of the BCM was the signing of two important agreements - a Memorandum of Understanding between the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) and the Argentine National Commission on Space Activities (CONAE) on Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space; and the renewal of an Agreement on Cultural Cooperation. PhilSA Director General, Joel Marciano, signed the MOU on behalf of the Philippines, while Undersecretary Lazaro initialed the Exchange of Notes on the renewal of the Agreement on Cultural Cooperation, in the presence of NCCA Chair Victorino Mapa Manalo.

The two sides also took the opportunity to discuss regional and global issues such as developments in the South China Sea and the Antarctic region, as well as relations between the United States and China. They spoke about the importance of the multilateral sphere and areas of possible cooperation in terms of the Philippines’ and Argentina’s respective candidatures in the UN system. Undersecretary Lazaro sought Argentina’s support for the Philippines’ bid for a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the term 2027-2028. Undersecretary Rozencwaig touched on Argentina’s presidency of MERCOSUR.

Other members of the Philippine delegation to the meeting included high-level representatives from the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), and the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The BCM is an important platform for discussing issues of common concern, finding ways to enhance existing cooperation, and charting the course for future engagements. This particular meeting comes at a time when both the Philippines and Argentina prepare to celebrate 75 years of formal diplomatic relations in August this year. The next BCM is expected to be held in Buenos Aires in 2025.

During his visit to Manila, Undersecretary Rozencwaig also delivered a presentation under the prestigious Mabini Dialogue format of the DFA - Foreign Service Institute (FSI). His presentation was entitled, “Argentina and the Philippines in the Current International Context”. Professor Aries Arugay, Chair of the UP - Diliman Political Science Department, served as reactor for the lecture. END

Undersecretary Lazaro and Undersecretary Rozencwaig before the start of the BCM.

Undersecretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro and Undersecretary Claudio Javier Rozencwaig.

PhilSA Director General Joel Joseph Marciano and Undersecretary Rozencwaig hold up the signed MOU on Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.

The Philippine and Argentine delegations to the 5th BCM.

Professor Aries Arugay (second from left); FSI Director General Ma. Teresita Daza (fourth from left); PH Ambassador to Argentina, HE Grace Cruz-Fabella (fifth from left); Undersecretary Rozencwaig; former PH Ambassador to Argentina Linglingay F. Lacanlale (in brown dress); Argentine Ambassador to PH Ricardo Bocalandro (red tie); Director for South America Miguel Hornilla; Assistant Secretary for American Affairs, Jose Victor V. Chan-Gonzaga (extreme right).