The Philippines and Algeria are planning to conduct regular high-level visits and bilateral consultations to strengthen their ties.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Bilateral and ASEAN Affairs Ma. Theresa Lazaro and Algerian Vice Minister for Western Sahara and the Maghreb Countries Amar Belani reviewed the two countries' status of relations during a meeting on June 15.
Both officials outlined a plan to conduct regular high-level visits and exchanges and the signing of cooperative legal frameworks, such as a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on bilateral consultations between the two countries.
Regular meetings and exchange of visits between business councils of both countries are also being eyed in the future.
Both sides also shared views on current international developments in the West Philippine Sea, the Ukraine-Russia conflict, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Mali and the Sahel region, and the African continent, including Western Sahara.
Belani’s official mission included a visit to several ASEAN countries in line with his government’s new thrust to expand relations in the Southeast Asian region.
According to the Foreign Affairs department, Lazaro welcomed this initiative and offered the assistance of the Philippines in facilitating Algeria’s engagement in ASEAN.
Belani's visit to the Philippines is part of his tour of the five original founding members of ASEAN.