PH Leads Asia Pacific Ambassadors in Meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister
From left: Deputy Director General for Asia and the Pacific Mr. Gilad Cohen, China’s chargé d’affaires Mr. Dao Yuming, Japanese Ambassador Koichi Aiboshi, Sri Lankan Ambassador Saddha Wilpatha Waruna, Australian Ambassador Christopher Keith Cannan, Nepalese Ambassador Dr. Anjan Shakya, Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, Philippine Ambassador Nathaniel G. Imperial, Thai Ambassador Pannabha Chandraramya, South Korean Ambassador Suh Dong-gu, Indian Ambassador Sanjeev Kumar Singla, Myanmar Ambassador Maung Maung Lynn, Vietnamese Ambassador Do Minh Hung. (Photo courtesy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Israel)
TEL AVIV 26 August 2020 — Philippine Ambassador to Israel Nathaniel “Neal” G. Imperial, in his capacity as coordinator of the Asia Pacific group of ambassadors, led a group of eleven heads of mission in their first formal meeting with Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi on 20 August 2020, since he assumed his post in May 2020.
Israeli Foreign Minister (FM) Gabi Ashkenazi presided over the special briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in which he emphasized the importance of the Asia and Pacific region to Israel, particularly in the context of its efforts to overcome the economic challenges posed by the pandemic.
Ambassador Imperial, speaking on behalf of the other ambassadors, welcomed FM Ashkenazi’s assumption of his post and expressed hope that under his leadership, Israel would continue to “look [toward] and prioritize the East”. The ambassador also extended the Asia Pacific embassies’ appreciation of the Israeli government’s coordination and assistance during the height of the pandemic, describing its treatment of foreign nationals as “very generous … a testament of the friendship and goodwill that happily exists between our countries and Israel”.
FM Ashkenazi thanked the ambassadors for coming to the briefing, opening with two main points: the deep significance of the recent announcement of normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, and Israel’s commitment to continue deepening relations with the Asia Pacific region as part of its efforts to address the health and economic challenges posed by the pandemic.
“You will find Israel [and myself] very open with regard to these issues,” FM Ashkenazi told the ambassadors. “Feel free to approach me, to engage.”
The Asia Pacific group is comprised of eleven diplomatic missions from Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. END
Foreign Minister Ashkenazi presides over the briefing in the MFA’s auditorium, where the Israeli cabinet holds its meetings. (Photo courtesy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Israel)
Philippine Ambassador to Israel Neal Imperial, speaking as coordinator for the Asia Pacific Group. (Photo courtesy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Israel)
For more information, visit https://www.telavivpe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.philippine-embassy.org.il or https://www.facebook.com/PHinIsrael/.