Philippines and Costa Rica Hold First Meeting of their Bilateral Consultation Mechanism
MANILA 14 June 2024 – The Philippines and Costa Rica reaffirmed on 13 June 2024 their commitment to reinvigorating bilateral ties with the virtual inaugural meeting of the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM).
Undersecretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, head of the Philippine delegation, was joined by Assistant Secretary for American Affairs Jose Victor V. Chan-Gonzaga and Ambassador Lilybeth Deapera of the Philippine Embassy in Mexico. The Costa Rican delegation was headed by Ambassador Lydia Maria Peralta Cordero, Vice Minister for Bilateral Affairs and International Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship of the Republic of Costa Rica.
Undersecretary Lazaro underscored the significance of the meeting as the countries have enjoyed nearly eighty years of formal diplomatic relations, and the Philippines’ continuing desire to reach out to friends near and far. The Undersecretary highlighted the country’s economic growth with the Philippines emerging as one of the fastest growing economies in Asia. She also spoke about the liberalization of policies to ease restrictions on foreign investments and improve the country’s investment environment. On the other hand, Vice Minister Peralta highlighted how Costa Rica’s forward-oriented economic strategy, openness to trade liberalization and efforts to diversify markets accounted for Costa Rica’s sustained economic growth.
Both delegations exchanged views on ways to expand and strengthen the two countries’ bilateral relations through cooperation of its diplomatic academies, and relevant government agencies in the areas of trade and investments, culture, volcanology and seismology, disaster risk reduction and management, space, law enforcement, and tourism, among other fields.
Undersecretary Lazaro and Vice Minister Peralta agreed that the meetings of the BCM should be regularly convened in order to serve as a platform for the continued deepening and enhancement of bilateral relations. END