Philippines, Serbia Hold Inaugural Political Consultations in Manila

Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro (left) co-chaired the Philippines-Serbia Political Consultations with State Secretary  Damjan Jovic of Serbia in Manila on 20 November 2024. (Photo credits to DFA-OPD Maria Vanessa Ubac)

MANILA 28 November 2024 - The inaugural Philippines-Serbia Political Consultations were co-chaired by Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro and Serbian State Secretary Damjan Jović on 20 November 2024 in Manila. 

The meeting covered political, economic, people-to-people and multilateral cooperation, including sectoral cooperation in science and technology, education and culture, consular and the maritime sectors. The co-chairs also exchanged views on various international and regional issues such as the South China Sea, Russia-Ukraine war, situation in the Middle East, and ASEAN.

Undersecretary Lazaro underscored that the sustained high-level exchanges between the Philippines and Serbia does not only serve to cultivate sectoral partnerships but also demonstrates the two countries’ political will in jointly developing well-rounded bilateral relations.

The co-chairs also looked forward to the signing of a visa waiver agreement for holders of diplomatic and official passports at the soonest opportunity.

The consultations were held following the signing by Secretary Enrique Manalo and Serbia’s then-Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić of a Memorandum of Understanding Establishing Political Consultations between the Philippines and Serbia in September 2023 in New York. END

(Photo credit: DFA-OPD Maria Vanessa Ubac)