The Philippines and Mexico recently agreed to fully implement signed agreements on combating illegal trafficking of narcotic drugs and on tourism exchange.
The two countries also expressed their commitment to finalise negotiations on pending agreements on air services, integral disaster risk management and the establishment of a Joint Economic Committee.
They sealed this commitment on May 6 at the conclusion of their second bilateral consultation mechanism meeting (BCM), the first to be held at the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs in Mexico City.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Enrique Manalo and Mexican Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Julian Ventura led their respective delegations in discussing bilateral political, economic and socio-cultural issues, as well as pressing regional and multilateral issues, as a means to deepen more than six decades of diplomatic relations between both countries.
Manalo and Ventura also identified specific actions to be undertaken to boost bilateral trade and investments and increase socio-cultural exchanges through the implementation of cultural and sports co-operation programmes.
They identified steps to promote new areas of co-operation in agriculture and exchange of best practices on consular matters and in the provision of assistance to nationals during the BCM. Both countries also exchanged views on regional developments in Asia and Latin America, including on the Association of South East Asian Nations, Asia-Pacific Economic Forum and the Pacific Alliance.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said the Philippines would host the next BCM, with the place and schedule to be mutually agreed upon at a later date.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Enrique Manalo.
