The Philippines has expressed commitment to work with Argentina in advocating for multilateralism to achieve rule of law and address various global challenges.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo cited the importance of the international stage as he spoke at a forum in Buenos Aires upon his visit there for bilateral talks with Argentinian counterpart, Santiago Cafiero.
Manalo said Manila will work with Buenos Aires, among other partners, on multilateralism to address various challenges, such as international risks and threats, climate change, humanitarian crises and on health.
This, as he considered that both sides have "played a bridging and moderating role in many multilateral settings where polarities have threatened consensus."
"We will continue playing this role," the Filipino diplomat said in his speech delivered at Consejo Argentino para las Relaciones Internacionales (CARI), an independent think tank.
The Philippines and Argentina are "important voices" in the UN, Manalo said. In fact, "generations of Filipino and Argentinian scholars and diplomats have left an indelible mark in the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)," he added.
Argentina's accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia in 2018 also proved Buenos Aires respect for multilateralism as it acknowledged the primary role of ASEAN in the regional architecture, Manalo said.
"We look ahead to Argentina’s closer engagement with ASEAN in the years to come," he said.
Manalo gave assurance that the Philippines will consistently endeavor to make multilateralism more constructive and inclusive.
"Recognizing a diversity of perspectives, we advocate for the engagement of a broader array of actors on global issues, allowing for a greater sense of ownership and resilience," he said.
As the Philippines and Argentina celebrate their 75th year of diplomatic relations, Manalo said his visit there is "an opportunity to review how much we have been in the periphery of each other’s visions, trusting the solid foundation of our long friendship to sustain our political, economic and cultural ties through these decades, and into the future."