10 December 2015 – Philippine Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim spoke at the American Jewish Committee (AJC) ACCESS Dinner with a Diplomat in Los Angeles on December 07.

Consul General Herrera-Lim spoke of the geopolitical importance of the Philippines in Southeast Asia, the history of the Jewish community in the Philippines and its bilateral relations with Israel, Iran and the United States.

Consul General Herrera-Lim highlighted the Philippines’ economic gains and the importance of the ASEAN Economic Community. He also gave a short update on the PH arbitration case on the South China Sea.

The Consul General drew comparison between the Philippines and Israel in terms of their geographic location and non-traditional challenges. “These are the ties that bind,” he stated, describing the long history of friendship and support between the two countries.

He also mentioned the Philippines’ friendly relations with Iran and the importance of the United States as its traditional ally.

ACCESS is AJC’s young professional leadership program aimed at training its youth to engage in issues affecting Jewish communities around the world. “Dinner with a Diplomat” is a series of forum featuring one country per evening. The Philippines is the only Asian country invited to participate. END