The Philippine government is expecting two foreign ministers in the country over the weekend as it seeks to strengthen it relationships with countries in the Indo-Pacific.
China's State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang will land in Manila on Friday and is scheduled to meet with Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Manalo the following day.
China's State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang. (Photo courtesy of China's Foreign Ministry)
It will be Qin's first in-person meeting with Manalo, according to DFA. The government will also welcome Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell on his five-day working visit in the Philippines that would start Thursday.
Photo courtesy of Minister Don Farrell's Facebook page
Farrell will sit down with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Alfredo Pascual, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, and Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Benjamin Diokno.
China and Australia are countries both close to the Philippines not only in terms of location but also in diplomatic relations.
In his meeting with Manalo, Qin will share his views on the outcomes of the recent Philippines-China Foreign Ministry Consultations and Bilateral Consultations Mechanism on the South China Sea held in Manila in March.
China and the Philippines are currently pursuing ties on agriculture, infrastructure, energy and people-to-people exchanges—the focal areas Qin and Manalo will also discuss.
Meanwhile, Australia has strong partnership with the Philippines in the fields of economy and defense and security.
According to DFA, Farrell "will discuss issues of mutual concern, particularly both countries' interest in stronger
bilateral ties in the sphere of trade and investments."
Farrell is the third top Australian government official to visit the Philippines under the Marcos administration after Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles in February and Special Envoy for Southeast Asia Nicholas Moore in March.
China's State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang. (Photo courtesy of China's Foreign Ministry)
It will be Qin's first in-person meeting with Manalo, according to DFA. The government will also welcome Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell on his five-day working visit in the Philippines that would start Thursday.
Photo courtesy of Minister Don Farrell's Facebook page
Farrell will sit down with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Alfredo Pascual, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, and Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Benjamin Diokno.
China and Australia are countries both close to the Philippines not only in terms of location but also in diplomatic relations.
In his meeting with Manalo, Qin will share his views on the outcomes of the recent Philippines-China Foreign Ministry Consultations and Bilateral Consultations Mechanism on the South China Sea held in Manila in March.
China and the Philippines are currently pursuing ties on agriculture, infrastructure, energy and people-to-people exchanges—the focal areas Qin and Manalo will also discuss.
Meanwhile, Australia has strong partnership with the Philippines in the fields of economy and defense and security.
According to DFA, Farrell "will discuss issues of mutual concern, particularly both countries' interest in stronger
bilateral ties in the sphere of trade and investments."
Farrell is the third top Australian government official to visit the Philippines under the Marcos administration after Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles in February and Special Envoy for Southeast Asia Nicholas Moore in March.