Source:  Department of Foreign Affairs

24 May 2011–The Philippines and the United Kingdom agreed to further intensify their bilateral and multilateral partnership in their second high-level meeting held Monday at the Manila Diamond Hotel.

The meeting was co-chaired by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Erlinda F. Basilio and Foreign and Commonwealth Office Asia-Pacific Director Peter Wilson.  The first meeting was held in London in July 2009.

“We value our comprehensive and productive interaction with Britain, and our meeting today has laid down the foundation for the shared aspiration to elevate the relations to a strategic partnership”, Undersecretary Basilio said.

For his part, Director Wilson said that the meeting reinforced the vital elements of the current relationship.

“The Philippines is an increasingly significant emerging power and Britain attaches great importance to this bilateral relationship. We recognize the Philippines’ strong economic growth and British investors are very keen to invest in the country and look forward to welcoming Filipino investments in the UK. Likewise, Filipinos in the UK have contributed immensely to the economy and many other aspects of the British national life,” he said.

The two sides noted the broad areas of understanding and cooperation between the Philippines and the UK on key bilateral issues such as the Mindanao Peace Process, international human rights law, and maritime cooperation. The meeting also touched on the issue of migration, taking into consideration the 250,000 Filipinos living and working in the UK.

The bilateral trade of both countries was evaluated, and both sides expressed a strong interest in increasing investment ties.  In particular, the British side stressed that it will participate in the Philippines’ Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program.

The UK is the biggest investor in the Philippines for the period 1999-2009 with foreign direct and equity investments totaling US$9.7 billion.

The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues such as the developments in ASEAN, South China Sea, the European Union, Middle East and North Africa, and climate change.

The meeting ended with both sides agreeing to meet again in London in 2012. (photos by: Benjamin Remo, DFA-PISU).
 

Published in DFA website, 24 May 2011