Top diplomats of the Philippines and India will meet in New Delhi on Thursday, June 29, to discuss existing areas of bilateral cooperation as well as new ones between the two countries.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo will co-chair the 5th meeting of the Philippines-India Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC).
Manalo's trip came upon the invitation of Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
The Philippines-India JCBC is a ministerial-level platform held every two years. The last meeting was held online on November 6, 2020 amid Covid-19 restrictions.
"Secretary Manalo's visit to New Delhi builds on the positive trajectory of high-level interactions between the two countries in the past six years. The Philippines in India are set to celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations in 2024," DFA said.
Manalo will lead a delegation of Philippine officials from the DFA, Department of Finance, Philippine Space Agency, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency and the Philippine Overseas Construction Board of the Department of Trade and Industry to India.
"The inter-agency delegation reflects the deepening cooperation between the Philippines and India across various sectors," DFA said.
Manalo will also headline the 42nd Sparu Lecture on June 28 organized by the Indian Council of World Affairs and the Philippine Foreign Service Institute.
He will also engage with the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) and the Philippines' Honorary Consular Officials in India and Nepal and Filipino community leaders during his visit.