Philippine Ambassador Presents Credentials to Cape Verdean President
LISBON 05 July 2024 — Philippine Ambassador Paul Raymund P. Cortes presented his credentials as non-resident Ambassador to Cabo Verde to President José Maria Neves of the Republic of Cabo Verde on 27 June 2024, at the Palácio da Presidência da República in Praia.
The ceremony began with a flag-raising at the presidential grounds, followed by the formal presentation of Ambassador Cortes’ letters of credence and letters of recall of his predecessor, Ambassador Celia Anna M. Feria
Ambassador Cortes expressed his sincere appreciation and deepest gratitude for the President’s warm reception and acceptance of his credentials. He conveyed the warmest greetings and best wishes from His Excellency Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos Jr., President of the Republic of the Philippines.
Following the presentation, Ambassador Cortes was invited for a private discussion in the President’s office, accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Rui Soares and Chief Diplomatic Advisor to the President, Ambassador Jacqueline Ferreira Pires.
During the meeting, Ambassador Cortes highlighted the shared priority of the Philippines and Cabo Verde in protecting their marine and aquatic resources. President Neves expressed a desire for increased interaction between officials of both countries, noting the historical gap since the last official visit from Cabo Verde to the Philippines in 1979. Ambassador Cortes underscored that digital infrastructure and information technology present significant prospects in strengthening bilateral cooperation between the Philippines and Cabo Verde. He applauded Cabo Verde's digitization of consular services and indicated an interest in sharing best practices, particularly in passport and authentication systems.
The discussions also touched on sports, particularly football. President Neves noted Cabo Verde's participation in the FIFA World Cup basketball tournament hosted by the Philippines in 2023 and proposed collaboration in sports training and management. Lastly, Ambassador Cortes emphasized the Philippines' active participation in numerous international organizations and requested Cabo Verde's support for its candidacies.
Recognizing the relevance of both countries’ populations abroad, the Philippines and Cabo Verde recognized the need for comprehensive migration strategies. Ambassador Cortes provided insights into the Philippines' migration management, and President Neves indicated an interest in learning from these techniques.
The meeting concluded on a positive note, with Ambassador Cortes and President Neves looking forward to deepening diplomatic ties and exploring new areas of cooperation between the Philippines and Cabo Verde. END
