New Zealand foreign minister to visit Philippines

New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully AP PHOTO

New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully will make a two-day official visit to the Philippines next week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced Wednesday.

In a statement, the DFA said McCully “will be in Manila on July 17 and 18 upon the invitation of Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario.”

“It will be Minister McCully’s first trip to the Philippines as New Zealand minister for foreign affairs,” the DFA noted.

Del Rosario and McCully “will discuss the advancement of economic ties and cooperation in the areas of defense, geothermal energy, dairy industry, labor, development cooperation, environment, and disaster preparedness,” said Raul Hernandez, DFA spokesperson.

McCully is also scheduled to call on President Benigno Aquino at Malacañang, the DFA said. Jerry E. Esplanada