PASAY CITY, 24 July 2021 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. held a phone call meeting with UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and discussed prospects for enhanced cooperation between the Philippines and the United Kingdom on 20 July 2021.
Both foreign ministers acknowledged this year’s 75th year anniversary celebration of bilateral relations, calling for greater efforts to further boost its partnership in areas such as trade and investment, defense, climate change and consular affairs, and underscored on-going cooperation in tackling the challenges posed by Covid 19 pandemic, including the significant role played by Filipino healthcare workers in the UK. Secretary Locsin took the opportunity to propose expanded cooperation on law enforcement capacity building, further discussion on the development of a digital yellow card for seafarers by members of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and called for UK’s overdue review and reconsideration of lifting its travel ban on PH.
On multilateral affairs, Secretary Locsin and Secretary Raab also exchanged views on regional developments including the UK’s Indo-Pacific tilt and its future relationship with ASEAN. The phone call meeting between the two senior officials took place in lieu of Sec. Locsin’s scheduled visit this month to the United Kingdom upon the invitation of the British Government.
Source: Republic of Philippines Department Of Foreign Affairs