April 2021 | International Law Alerts | Foreign Policy / Bilateral Relations

 

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. joined Foreign Ministers and High Representatives of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member States, the ASEAN Secretary-General and United Kingdom (UK) Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab at the ASEAN-UK Open-Ended Troika Dialogue on 08 April 2021 via video conference.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Affairs Brigido J. Dulay welcomed French Ambassador to the Philippines Michèle Boccoz at the Department of Foreign Affairs on 13 April 2021.

Undersecretary Dulay and Ambassador Boccoz reaffirmed the close ties between the Philippines and France, stronger cooperation in the areas of defense, maritime, business and investments, and health.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Strategic Communications and Research Ernesto C. Abella underscored the Philippines’ role as intermediary between the Ibero-American and ASEAN communities during his intervention in the Ibero-American Associate Observers’ Meeting held virtually on 16 April 2021.

Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. lauded the strong humanitarian partnership between the Philippines and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) during his meeting with ICRC Head of Delegation in the Philippines Mr. Boris Michel on 21 April 2021.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has lodged on 21 April two new diplomatic notes in protest of the continued deployment, lingering presence, and activities of Chinese vessels in Philippine maritime zones. The presence of these vessels blatantly infringe upon Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction.

The Philippines and Russia vowed stronger bilateral cooperation in COVID-19 vaccines, trade, technology, and protection of Overseas Filipinos in Russia during the virtual 12th Political Consultations, co-chaired by Acting Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Bilateral and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Affairs Elizabeth P. Buensuceso with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor V. Morgulov, on 23 April 2021.

Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Affairs Brigido J. Dulay met with Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Steven J. Robinson AO at the Department of Foreign Affairs on 26 April 2021, reaffirming the close ties between the Philippines and Australia.

During a courtesy call on 31 March 2021, Philippine Ambassador to Cambodia Maria Amelita C. Aquino and Cambodia National Assembly President Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin acknowledged the close cooperation and friendship between the Philippine and Cambodian parliamentarians.

In another pioneering initiative, the Philippine Embassy in Seoul held the webinar launch of Promoting Entrepreneurship and Agribusiness to Filipinos in Korea, or “PEAK Pinoy” on 21 March 2021 in Seoul

Philippine Ambassador to Thailand Millicent Cruz-Paredes called on Mr. Chaeronrit Sanguansat, Governor of the Province of Chiang Mai, on 02 April 2021 and discussed ways to strengthen PH ties with the Chiang Mai Provincial Government.

The Philippines and the United Arab Emirates entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Establishment of a Joint Consular Committee to create a bilateral mechanism for the protection of the interest of their nationals by mutually providing timely and effective assistance on a whole range of consular matters on 7 April 2021.

The Movement of the Enterprises of France (MEDEF) International and the Philippine Embassy in Paris co-organized with the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) a high-level virtual meeting on 21 April 2021 for member-companies of the French business confederation MEDEF, shining the spotlight this time on trade and investment opportunities in Philippine agriculture

The Philippines, through the Permanent Representative of the Philippines to Geneva Ambassador Evan P. Garcia, deposited its instrument of accession to the Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances (BTAP) on 28 April 2021. Ambassador Garcia personally handed the instrument of accession to World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Director General Darren Tang at WIPO Headquarters.

Newly-appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs Bùi Thanh Sơn on Wednesday held separate online conversations with Australian foreign minister Marise Payne, Malaysian foreign minister Hishammuddin Hussein and Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin Jr.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday announced that its consular offices remain closed after the extension of the enhanced community quarantine in the National Capital Region (NCR) and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal, collectively known as NCR Plus.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday reminded all Filipino dual citizens who wish to travel to the Philippines to present necessary documents as proof of Philippine citizenship to prevent any inconvenience with airline companies and immigration authorities.