Manila: Foreign Minister, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty held the 10th round of political consultations with Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro during a visit to Manila, marking the first visit by an Egyptian foreign minister to the Philippines since diplomatic relations were established between the two countries 80 years ago.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the consultations, conducted for the first time at the ministerial level, highlight the ongoing progress in Egyptian-Philippine relations and the mutual commitment to broadening bilateral cooperation. Abdelatty emphasized that the visit aligns with the 80th anniversary of diplomatic ties, recalling Egypt's early recognition of the Philippines' independence.
During the meeting, Abdelatty conveyed greetings from President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., reaffirming Egypt's dedication to maintaining regular political consultations as a means to coordinate on issues of mutual interest and advance bilateral agreements. He also stressed the importance of enhancing high-level exchanges to build on the positive momentum in relations.
Abdelatty congratulated the Philippines on its role as the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and expressed Egypt's interest in participating in events marking the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. He reiterated Egypt's commitment to strengthening partnerships with ASEAN and expanding cooperation with Southeast Asian countries.
The two ministers also discussed the convergence of views on various regional and global issues and the importance of continued coordination within regional and international organizations.
Economically, Abdelatty expressed Egypt's desire to boost bilateral trade, emphasizing investment opportunities, advanced infrastructure, strategic location, and the extensive network of free trade agreements. He proposed the establishment of an Egyptian-Philippine Business Council to promote trade, investment, and tourism, particularly in sectors like agriculture, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and fertilizers.
Additionally, he highlighted potential collaborations between the Egyptian Drug Authority and the Philippine healthcare sector and welcomed the agreement to amend the visa exemption for diplomatic passport holders to include holders of special and official passports. Abdelatty also stressed the need for expanding business exchanges and meetings to foster new investment partnerships.
The minister praised the advancements in bilateral cooperation in culture, agriculture, defense, security, and counterterrorism, noting the historic visit of a Philippine Defense Ministry delegation to Cairo in 2025. He also welcomed the progress in allowing Egyptian agricultural products into the Philippine market and anticipated the early implementation of market access agreements for five Egyptian agricultural products.
The discussions also included regional developments, with Abdelatty reviewing Egypt's diplomatic efforts to de-escalate regional tensions and stressing the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation and securing international maritime routes.
For her part, Lazaro described Abdelatty's visit as a historic milestone in bilateral relations, reaffirming the Philippines' commitment to deepening cooperation with Egypt and enhancing coordination on regional and international issues of mutual interest.