Statement
of
Foreign Affairs Secretary
Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr.
on the
Occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between the Republic of the Philippines and the Republic of Uzbekistan
13 April 2022, Manila
It is my honor to extend my warmest greetings to the government and people of the Republic of Uzbekistan as we mark the 30th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between our two countries.
Today is a celebration of three decades of cordial relationship between our countries, whose statehood was achieved at different points in history. Diplomatic relations were established at a time when the Philippines was a few years into the post-EDSA period while Uzbekistan was in its first year as a republic. While our countries were at different points of national development, we shared a strong desire for nation-building.
As a mark of our continued pursuit of shared interests, we convened the 2nd Philippines-Uzbekistan Bilateral Consultations in September 2021, even while dealing with the many challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. This meeting provided our two countries the opportunity to review the status of ongoing cooperation in trade, agriculture, and investments, among other issues, and chart the path forward in these areas.
We hope to intensify our efforts to draw more trade and investments between our two countries. Filipino company Liwayway Marketing Corporation has broken ground in this regard by setting up a food manufacturing facility in Uzbekistan, signaling the start of a flourishing economic cooperation between the Philippines and Uzbekistan.
We will work to enrich our people-to-people exchanges, and the Filipinos that are going to Uzbekistan for work are paving the way. I express appreciation to the Uzbek people for the hospitality extended to my fellow Filipinos and to the government for ensuring that they enjoy good working and living conditions. As travel restrictions ease, I invite our Uzbek brothers and sisters to visit the Philippines and experience the warmth and hospitality of the Filipino people.
On this auspicious occasion, I express the hope that the ties between the government and peoples of the Philippines and Uzbekistan will continue to grow as we work to realize our shared future.
Mabuhay!