External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar commenced the second leg of his three-nation tour of Asia with an official visit to the Philippines on Tuesday. Upon his arrival, he engaged in significant bilateral meetings, marking a pivotal moment in fostering stronger ties between India and the Philippines.
During his visit, EAM Dr. Jaishankar held talks with his Philippine counterpart, Enrique A. Manalo, where both sides exchanged views on various aspects of the multifaceted India-Philippines partnership across diverse sectors. Describing the meeting as ‘warm and productive,’ Dr. Jaishankar emphasized the importance of advancing cooperation between the two nations.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), EAM Dr. Jaishankar highlighted the breadth of discussions, which encompassed areas such as political, defense, security, maritime cooperation, trade, investment, infrastructure, development cooperation, education, digital technology, and culture.
The discussions also touched upon matters of global and regional significance, with both sides reaffirming their support for each other at international forums like ASEAN, NAM, and the UN. Dr. Jaishankar stressed the commitment of both democracies to upholding a rules-based order, underscoring the need for intensified cooperation.
In a significant gesture, Dr. Jaishankar paid a courtesy call on President Bongbong Marcos of the Philippines, conveying personal greetings from President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He appreciated President Marcos’ warm sentiments towards enhancing the India-Philippines partnership, expressing optimism about strengthening collaboration between the two democratic nations.
As part of his official engagements, Dr. Jaishankar also visited the Indian Coast Guard Ship Samudra Paheredar during its port call to Manila, highlighting the maritime cooperation between India and the Philippines.
