Philippines, Croatia Reaffirm Ties in 5th Political Consultations

DFA Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro co-leads the 5th PH-Croatia Bilateral Consultations with State Secretary for Political Affairs Frano Matušić of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia

ZAGREB 29 October 2024 – The Philippines and Croatia successfully concluded their 5th Political Consultations in Zagreb on 24 October 2024, with both countries reaffirming their ties. The Philippine delegation was headed by  DFA Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, while the Croatian delegation was headed by State Secretary for Political Affairs Frano Matušić of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.

The Philippine and Croatian delegations discussed ways  of expanding and deepening cooperation through high level exchanges of visits, inter-parliamentary relations, trade and investments,  maritime, defense, labor, science and technology, education, and tourism.. The Philippines also encouraged exchange of business delegation visits and collaboration on creative industries, as well as enhancement of people-to-people ties through university-to-university linkages and the establishment of  Philippine studies programs in Croatian Universities.

The delegations also  had an open and candid exchange  on various global and regional issues of concern, including developments in the Indo-Pacific,  Middle East, Ukraine and the Balkans. They noted the growing significance of the Indo-Pacific, as well as Europe's increasing interest and engagement in these areas.  

On the West Philippine Sea, Undersecretary Lazaro thanked the EU through Croatia for their  consistent support for international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the binding 2016 Arbitral Award.

Both countries reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing bilateral initiatives,  and to upholding a rules-based international order. 

Affirming the Philippines’ commitment to further strengthen relations with Croatia, Undersecretary Lazaro invited the Croatian delegation to Manila for the  6th round of political relations in Manila.

During the Undersecretary’s visit in Zagreb, she also met with Deputy Speaker Željko Reiner of the Croatian Parliament and Director General for Political Affairs Petar Mihatov of the Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, and delivered a lecture on Philippine Foreign Policy at the Diplomatic Academy of the Foreign Ministry. END