As the Philippines and New Zealand work on increasing their diplomatic and economic ties, President Marcos expressed hopes that the Philippine durian could soon be exported to island-country.
In downtown Davao City, a vendor sells durian in his stall. (Keith Bacongco/Manila Bulletin)
Quoting the Chief Executive in his meeting with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said in a statement on Saturday, Oct. 12, that both the Department of Agriculture (DA) and New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries “are already in discussion on how to achieve this (durian export).”
Marcos and Luxon met for a bilateral meeting in Laos on the sidelines of the 44th and 45th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits.
The New Zealand Prime Minister said that both countries made good progress in various areas such as security, trade, and economy.
“I think on the economic front, we’ve talked about onions and pineapples. Pineapples are coming to New Zealand, onions [are] going to the Philippines, I hope. So, I think we’ve made some good progress there,” Luxon said, citing positive developments in education and political relation.
The meeting between the two officials came as both countries work to turn their diplomatic relationship into a comprehensive partnership, which aims to bring prosperity via the Proposed Roadmap to Comprehensive Partnership 2024-2025 between.
Marcos said during his remarks that the roadmap is currently being finalized by the concerned government agencies.
“I think, the roadmap that’s being finalized now we should have it ready by the 60th anniversary of [the] establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries,” he stated.
“So, I think that’s well on its way. Quite frankly, there are no real obstacles. It’s just a question of finalizing the language,” he told Luxon, who earlier asked the President about the roadmap and what needs to be discussed “to keep that moving forward and to get there.”
“I think we’ve made some good progress ... and continued progress on the roadmap,” Luxon told Marcos.
The two governments have already concluded bilateral agreements on defense and military, environment, labor, air services, law enforcement to combat transnational crimes, and work holiday scheme.
These agreements also cover science and technology, geothermal cooperation, avoidance of double taxation, trade, and postal matters.
The Philippines and New Zealand established diplomatic relations on July 6, 1966, and will commemorate the 60th year of the establishment of their diplomatic relations in 2026.