Manalo to meet with Indon foreign minister in Manila for bilateral talks
Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo will welcome Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in Manila as they are set to hold talks over issues of mutual interest.
Manalo and Marsudi will meet on January 9 for the Ministerial Meeting of the 7th Philippines-Indonesia Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC).
The JCBC is the primary dialogue mechanism between the Philippines and Indonesia to review accomplishments on mutual collaboration initiatives, exchange views on issues of mutual interest, and consider plans for enhancing cooperation.
The Philippines also has JCBC with other Southeast Asian countries, such as Vietnam and Laos, where Manalo went in July 2023 to seek possible defense, maritime and economic partnership between Manila and Hanoi and to enhance further ties between Manila and Vientiane, respectively.
During the meeting with Marsudi, Manalo and his Indonesian counterpart will also exchange views on key regional and international issues of common concern for the Philippines and Indonesia, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
DFA did not provide any more details about the meeting as DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said preparations for it are still ongoing.
In April 2022, a Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) was held virtually also for the 7th JCBC.