05 August 2015 - Honorable Albert F. del Rosario, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, met with Honorable Julie Bishop, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia, on the sidelines of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 05 August 2015.
Secretary Del Rosario and Minister Bishop affirmed the long-standing friendly and robust relations between the two countries, which go beyond merely political relations to include dynamic cooperation in defense and counterterrorism, trade and investments, people to people exchanges, education, and development, among others.
Australia has also been providing humanitarian assistance to the Philippines for the victims of various natural calamities in the country. It is also a valuable partner of the Philippines in capacity building for disaster risk reduction and management. Australia is likewise providing assistance in our country’s efforts to enhance institutional capacity in support of the Philippine Government’s peace process.
The Ministers also took the opportunity to discuss topics of mutual interest such as Australia’s recent donation of two (2) landing craft heavy (LCH) vessels to the Philippine Navy. According to Secretary Del Rosario, “enhancing defense and security relations with Australia is very important especially during this period when the region is witnessing dynamism in the political, economic and military fields.”
Noting the excellent state of bilateral cooperation, the two Foreign Ministers agreed that both countries are ready to elevate their friendship to a higher level to mark the 70th anniversary of bilateral relations in 2016.
The Philippines and Australia enjoy a close friendship characterized by a shared commitment to the principles of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Australia is the Philipines’17th largest trading partner, and is home to over 210,000 Filipinos. END