Philippines and Belarus Discuss Closer Sectoral Cooperation at Milestone Inaugural Bilateral Consultations

Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro (center)  meets with First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Lukashevich of Belarus (fourth from right) to discuss ways to promote sectoral cooperation on 28 October 2024 in Manila. (photo credit to DFA-OPD James Ryan Artiaga)

MANILA 29 October 2024 – Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro co-chaired the inaugural Philippines-Belarus Bilateral Consultations with First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Lukashevich of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus on 28 October 2024 in Manila, where they discussed ways of boosting sectoral cooperation between the Philippines and Belarus.

Undersecretary Lazaro remarked that collaboration is key to finding commonalities that are crucial to maintaining peace and prosperity. “The Philippines is pleased to host the inaugural consultations only a year after our foreign ministers signed the memorandum of understanding establishing this very mechanism. We take it as an auspicious sign on the relations of our countries,” added Undersecretary Lazaro. The memorandum of understanding establishing bilateral consultations between the Philippines and Belarus was signed by Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo and then-Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Aleinik in September 2023 in New York.

Both officials agreed to connect stakeholders from both the public and private sectors in the areas of agriculture, health, education, culture and science and technology.  They also exchanged views on various regional and international issues of global concern, including Ukraine, Middle East and the South China Sea.

As part of mutual commitment to promote more exchanges between government officials, they agreed to sign a visa waiver agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders within the year. To maintain the momentum and goodwill generated by the day’s events, both Undersecretary Lazaro and First Deputy Foreign Minister Lukashevich also agreed to hold the second round of bilateral consultations in Minsk by summer of 2025.

The Philippines and Belarus will celebrate 30 years of friendship after establishing diplomatic relations on 22 May 1996. END