18 February 2015 – The Slovak Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajčák will undertake an official visit to the Philippines from February 21 to 24.

This is the first visit to the Philippines by a high-level Slovak delegation since 2001. This visit aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the Philippines and the Slovak Republic through the inaugural political consultations, as well as to expand trade relations. The Minister will also be accompanied by a business delegation.

Minister Lajčák’s visit follows his successful meeting with Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario on the sidelines of the Asia–Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit in Milan, Italy in October 2014, during which the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing the political consultations mechanism was signed.

The Philippines established diplomatic relations with the Slovak Republic on 01 January 1993.  As of September 2014, total trade between the Philippines and the Slovak Republic amounted to US$5.61 million. END