Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Manalo Advances Philippine-Portugal Ties During Historic Visit of Portuguese Foreign Minister João Gomes Cravinho

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Manalo Advances Philippine-Portugal Ties During Historic Visit of Portuguese Foreign Minister João Gomes Cravinho

Pasay 29 July 2023 - Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo welcomed Portuguese Foreign Minister João Gomes Cravinho on 28 July 2023 and hosted a lunch meeting at the Manila Diamond Hotel to discuss issues of mutual interest and advance areas of cooperation in several sectors.

Foreign Minister Cravinho is in the Philippines for an official visit from 27 to 29 July 2023. It is the first visit to the Philippines by a Foreign Minister of Portugal since both sides established diplomatic relations in 1946. Today’s meeting builds on the strides made by both countries during the 3rd Philippines-Portugal Political Consultations held in 2019.

“The Philippines and Portugal share enduring ties that span several centuries which today are highlighted by our good people-to-people relations,” Manalo said. “We share a commitment to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law and have a common interest in enhancing trade and investment, cooperation in security and defense, and promoting even closer ties,” he further added.

These ties are manifested in the 1,700 plus-strong Filipino community in Portugal and the productive partnership of both nations in several areas, especially culture, migration, rule of law, the sustainable use of the oceans, and maritime cooperation.

Both sides capped their meeting by exchanging views on  regional and international developments as well as on areas of cooperation in the multilateral sphere.

After the meeting, both Ministers delivered statements to the press. In his statement, Secretary Manalo welcomed opportunities for the Philippines and Portugal to advance cooperation in areas such as defense, maritime, trade and investments, culture, tourism, agriculture, energy, education, and ICT.

Foreign Minister Cravinho, in his statement, noted that the Philippines and Portugal shared similar interests in advancing bilateral cooperation, converging views on global rule and order, and the need to uphold territorial integrity and sovereignty.

He further highlighted the importance of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), echoing Secretary Manalo’s view that it should be understood as a “constitution of the oceans” and stated how he wished to underline Portugal’s support for the UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award. END