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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DFA chief Lazaro to visit Brazil, Chile to strengthen ties; mark 80 years of diplomatic relations

DFA chief Lazaro to visit Brazil, Chile to strengthen ties; mark 80 years of diplomatic relations

Foreign Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro to hold high-level meetings and promote trade, investment, defense, and digital cooperation during trip

Published Aug 8, 2026 01:53 pm

At A Glance

  • DFA Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro will visit Brazil and Chile from Aug. 10 to 13 to mark the 80th anniversary of the Philippines' diplomatic relations with both countries.
  • The trip includes meetings with senior government officials, business leaders, and Philippine ambassadors assigned to Latin America.
  • The visit aims to expand cooperation in trade, investment, defense, energy, agriculture, science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation while building on the recently concluded Philippines-Chile CEPA negotiations.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro will visit Brazil and Chile from Aug. 10 to 13, 2026, to strengthen bilateral relations and commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Philippines' diplomatic ties with both Latin American countries. (DFA / MB Visual Content Group)
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro will visit Brazil and Chile from Aug. 10 to 13, 2026, to strengthen bilateral relations and commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Philippines' diplomatic ties with both Latin American countries. (DFA / MB Visual Content Group)
Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro will undertake official visits to Brazil and Chile from Aug. 10 to 13 to strengthen the Philippines' longstanding relations with the two Latin American nations as they commemorate the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), in a statement issued on Aug. 7, said Lazaro's two-country visit aims to deepen political, economic, and socio-cultural cooperation while expanding partnerships in key sectors, including trade and investment, defense, energy, agriculture, science, technology, innovation, digital transformation, tourism, and sports.
"Secretary Lazaro's visit aims to foster closer engagement and mutually beneficial cooperation with Brazil and Chile in the political, economic, and socio-cultural spheres," the DFA said.
"She is expected to discuss collaboration in various areas, such as trade and investment, defense, energy, agriculture, science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation, as well as people-to-people linkages through tourism and sports," it added.
Lazaro will begin her trip in São Paulo, Brazil's largest city and financial center, where she is scheduled to meet with business leaders and deliver a lecture on Philippine foreign policy at the University of São Paulo.
The DFA said Lazaro will then travel to Brasília for official bilateral talks with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira.
During her stay in the Brazilian capital, Lazaro will also convene a Regional Consultation Meeting (RCM) with the Philippines' five ambassadors assigned to Latin America to discuss regional developments and advance Philippine foreign policy priorities in the region.
For the second leg of her Latin America visit, the foreign secretary will proceed to Santiago, Chile, where she is expected to pay a courtesy call on Chilean President José Antonio Kast and hold bilateral discussions with Chilean Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna.
The DFA said the visit reflects the Philippines' expanding engagement with Latin America, underscored by the recent conclusion of negotiations for the Philippines-Chile Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which is expected to further boost trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.
The Philippines established diplomatic relations with both Brazil and Chile on July 4, 1946. This year marks the 80th anniversary of those diplomatic ties, highlighting eight decades of cooperation and friendship between the Philippines and the two Latin American nations. 

Related Tags

Ma. Theresa Lazaro Philippines-Brazil relations Philippines-Chile relations Department of Foreign Affairs Latin America diplomacy
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