MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / June 1, 2013) – The Philippines and New Zealand held the 3rd Round of Bilateral Consultations in Wellington and laid the groundwork for the planned visit of Prime Minister John Key to Manila this year, the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.
The consultations were the results of the President Benigno Aquino’s State Visit to New Zealand in October last year.
The Philippine delegation, headed by Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Affairs Maria Theresa Lazaro, met with officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade led by Division Manager for South and Southeast Asia Stephen Harris, and discussed a wide range of issues of mutual and regional interest.
Philippines and New Zealand officials noted the developments in trade and investment relations as well as in development, geothermal energy, defense, tourism, education, and ICT cooperation.
Also discussed during the consulations were measures being taken towards the smooth and successful implementation of the Working Holiday Scheme Arrangement and the Philippines-New Zealand Dairy Project.
There was a productive exchange of views on regional and international matters concerning ASEAN, the West Philippine Sea, Mindanao, peacekeeping, and the Pacific Islands Forum.
The officials also discussed preparations for Key’s visit to the Philippines.
The Philippines-New Zealand Bilateral Consultations was first convened in Manila in 1999, followed by a second meeting in Wellington in 2000. In their meetings in July and August 2012, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Foreign Minister Murray McCully agreed that regular dialogue was necessary to sustain the energised momentum of bilateral relations.
The ministers also agreed that this could be done through the reconvening of the Bilateral Consultations mechanism. The next Bilateral Consultations will be held in Manila in 2014.
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