PH Embassy in Poland leads celebration of 30 Years of PH-Estonia diplomatic relations
Top row, L-R: Ms. Alena Borra, First Secretary & Consul of the Philippine Embassy; H.E. Väino Reinart, Estonian Ambassador to the Philippines; Mr. Meelis Virkebau, Philippine Honorary Consul in Estonia; H.E. Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz, Philippine Ambassador to Estonia. Second row, L-R: Mr. Fernando Martin O. Peña, Estonian Honorary Consul in the Philippines; H.E. Archbishop Petar Rajič, Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See to Estonia; Ms. Liisi Kirschenberg, Export Services Coordinator, Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Bottom row, L-R: Ambassador Mati Murd, Director for Asia Pacific Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia; Ms. Merike Grünthal, Asia Pacific Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia. (Warsaw PE photo)
WARSAW, 21 December 2021 – The Philippine Embassy in Poland led the commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of the Philippines and the Republic of Estonia by hosting a virtual get-together with Estonia’s Foreign Ministry officials and special guests on 15 December 2021. The actual anniversary falls on Sunday, 19 December.
Philippines’ non-resident Ambassador to Estonia Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz welcomed the guests to the virtual reception while her counterpart, Estonian Ambassador to the Philippines Väino Reinart, delivered the opening remarks.
The celebration featured special messages from Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. and Estonia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Rein Tammsaar.
“Year after year, Estonia continues to be recognized as the most advanced digital society, and among the leading innovators in Europe,” Secretary Locsin remarked in his message for the milestone anniversary.
“We have a mutual interest in advancing innovation and the use of technology and digitalization to bring services closer to our peoples, to increase productivity, and to drive prosperity,” the Secretary added.
Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. delivers a special message for the 30th year of PH-Estonia diplomatic relations.
Deputy Minister Tammsaar agreed, stating in his own message, “Our companies are already sharing this experience with the Philippines, and I am convinced that this mutually beneficial cooperation in e-governance, cyber and other sectors will only intensify during the coming years.”
Cooperation in various other areas is equally important for Estonia, Mr. Tammsaar emphasized: “In order to expand our bilateral cooperation, it is essential to foster people-to-people contacts. Many Estonians have enjoyed the warm hospitality of the Philippine tourism sector, and some of us have been contributing to projects that help local communities in the Philippines to cope with drastic effects of climate change. I hope the restrictions for international travel caused by the pandemic will soon be completely erased and we can resume the travel in both directions.”
Estonian Deputy Foreign Minister Rein Tammsaar delivers a special message for the milestone anniversary.
Special guests who delivered greetings include H.E. Archbishop Petar Rajič, Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See to Estonia; Mr. Meelis Virkebau, Philippine Honorary Consul in Estonia; Mr. Fernando Martin O. Peña, Estonian Honorary Consul in the Philippines; and Ms. Liisi Kirschenberg, Export Services Coordinator, Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Ambassador Ruiz concluded the event by thanking the Foreign Ministry of Estonia for their “very active support and collaboration” with the Philippine Embassy in looking for ways to further expand bilateral relations between the Philippines and Estonia, and committed to visiting Tallinn as soon as conditions permit in order to follow up on opportunities for more business and cultural exchanges. END
For more information, visit https://www.warsawpe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.facebook.com/PHLinPoland/ or https://www.twitter.com/PHLINPL.