Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong delivers a lecture at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, on July 6, 2022. (File photo from IISS)
MANILA, Philippines — Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong will meet Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo to discuss ties between their nations and map out new areas for collaboration in her visit to Manila next week.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday announced Wong had accepted Manalo’s invitation for an official visit to the Philippines from May 16 to 19.
It will be Wong’s first visit to the country since assuming office in May 2022 following the election of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
DFA said Manalo and Wong will meet on May 18 to talk about a variety of issues concerning mutual interest, including defense and security, development, trade and investment, and people-to-people ties.
“This bilateral meeting will allow both countries to assess the current state of their bilateral relations and chart the course for further collaboration,” DFA said in a statement.
Wong will also pay a courtesy call on President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte.
DFA, however, has not disclosed the date of the courtesy call.
The department further said Wong’s visit comes after a string of “high-level exchanges between the Philippines and Australia, reflecting both countries’ strong commitment to advancing their comprehensive partnership to a higher level.”
“This visit is also an excellent opportunity to renew and deepen the friendship between the two nations and explore new areas of cooperation,” it stressed.
Australia is among the countries the Philippines is eyeing to join forces with in conducting joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea – where Chinese vessels continue to swarm.
Beijing has consistently undermined the 2016 arbitral ruling that rejects its sweeping claims in the South China Sea.
READ: PH, Australia explore doing joint patrols in WPS
Aside from the United States, Australia is the only other country that entered into a visiting forces deal with the Philippines.
At least a hundred Australian troops also took part in the recently concluded, largest-ever annual war games between Washington and Manila.