Ched Rick Gatchalian

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. delivers his inaugural address as the 17th President of the Philippines at the National Museum in Manila on June 30, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/file

Article (news)

Stronger ties with Chile eyed with minister’s visit to PH: Marcos Jr.


ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:958px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1733542043709ph.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. delivers his inaugural address as the 17th President of the Philippines at the National Museum in Manila on June 30, 2022. <em>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/file </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Philippine government expects the visit of Chilean Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren to Manila to boost cooperation and deepen ties between the two countries, President Ferdinand &quot;Bongbong&quot; Marcos Jr. said.</p><p>Chile&#x27;s diplomat arrived on Friday, December 6, to kick off the bilateral talks and negotiations between Manila and Santiago.</p><p>“I’ll make certain that everything, the time that you spend here will be as productive as possible and would further the relations between our two countries,”  Marcos Jr. told Klaveren during the minister&#x27;s courtesy call in Malacañang.</p><p>“Although physical distance used to be a problem or an obstacle, that does not apply any longer. So, I think there’s much that we can do to further the relations and the partnerships between our two countries,” he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/business/05/30/19/back-on-track-philippines-chile-revive-talks-on-free-trade-pact">‘Back on track’: Philippines, Chile revive talks on free trade pact</a></div><p>Marcos Jr. sees the opportunity to further partner with Chile in agriculture, specifically cacao cultivation and processing.</p><p>“Because it’s becoming a very important crop – slowly becoming an important crop. We are trying to promote it. And you have I think the best technologies when it comes to that product,” he said.</p><p>The Chilean minister also signed with Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque on Friday a joint statement that formally opens the negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).</p><p>Roque said they are looking at investments involving fish and minerals export from Mindanao.</p><p>“[There are] skin beauty products and other things that we can [explore on]… And also the agriculture sector and the seafood products that we can export to them,” she mentioned.</p><div><strong>CAMPAIGN FOR MANILA&#x27;S SEAT IN UN SECURITY COUNCIL</strong></div><p>Marcos Jr. thanked Chile for confirming its support for the Philippines&#x27; bid in the UN Security Council for the term 2027-2028. Manila has meanwhile pledged support for Chile&#x27;s candidacy to the Security Council for the term 2029-2030.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/29/ph-campaigns-for-seat-in-un-security-council-seeks-reforms-revitalization-1608">PH campaigns for seat in UN Security Council, seeks &#x27;reforms, revitalization&#x27; of international panel</a></div><p>The Philippines is urging UN members to give it a seat on Security Council as the country pledges to offer constructive solutions across the spectrum of advocacies and work of the body.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/1/un-official-says-relations-with-ph-improved-under-marcos-1536">UN official says relations with PH improved under Marcos</a></div><p>The Chilean official meanwhile expressed satisfaction with his short stay in Manila. He recalled the bilateral discussion he had with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo who welcomed him at the country.</p><p>“We have had a very productive meeting with Secretary Manalo and we talked about our bilateral relations, about regional and global issues, and about the potential of our bilateral relations,” Klaveren told Marcos Jr.</p><p>In 2023, Chile was the Philippines’ 49th trading partner (out of 230), 47th export market (out of 205), and 50th import supplier (out of 221).</p><p>The two countries established their diplomatic relations since July 1946 and they celebrated the 75th anniversary of diplomatic partnership in 2021.</p><div><strong>CLOSER TIES WITH WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION</strong></div><p>Malacañang also hopes to collaborate more with the World Health Organization (WHO) as Dr. Saia Ma’u Piukala, regional director for the Western Pacific, visited at the palace earlier Friday.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2024/10/17/who-9-out-of-10-deaths-in-western-pacific-including-ph-due-to-noncommunicable-diseases-1409">WHO: 9 out of 10 deaths in Western Pacific including PH due to noncommunicable diseases</a></div><p>“Welcome to Manila. I know you just finished your conference last week, which I think was quite constructive, very productive,” Marcos Jr. told Piukala.</p><p>“Well, I’m sure [Health Secretary Ted Herbosa] has explained to you what the Philippines has been trying to do, especially [on] post-pandemic lessons learned. So, whatever guidance that the WHO can provide us is something that we will certainly welcome,” he said.</p><p>Piukala leads the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO) in its work with governments and partners across the Western Pacific to improve regional health measures.</p>

<p>The Philippine government expects the visit of Chilean Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren to Manila can boost cooperation and deepen ties between the two countries, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said Saturday.</p>

The Philippine government expects the visit of Chilean Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren to Manila can boost cooperation and deepen ties between the two countries, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said Saturday.