PH-Australia talks start Thursday

FILE PHOTOS

MANILA, Philippines—High-level officials of the Philippines and Australia are set to meet Thursday in talks expected to boost cooperation between the two countries in the areas of trade and regional concerns.

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario and Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo will meet with their counterparts from Canberra, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Robb, at the Department of Foreign Affairs Thursday for the fourth Philippines-Australia Ministerial Meeting (PAMM).

Barry O’Farrell, the Premier of New South Wales, will also join the Australian delegation visiting from today until Friday.

Running parallel to the government talks are the private-sector business dialogues between the Philippines Australia Business Council (PABC) and its counterpart, the Australia Philippines Business Council (APBC).

The joint sessions between foreign affairs and trade involve the participation of Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, and Australian Minister for Trade Andrew Robb and Philippine Trade and Industry Secretary Gregorio Domingo.

The bilateral talks between Australia and the Philippines include the two officially recognized private-sector representatives—the PABC and the APBC—with the participation of the Australia-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce Philippines.  At the joint session, the private sector will present its concerns to both governments on matters of doing business between Australia and the Philippines.

Since 1975, the PABC and the APBC have been officially involved in the bilateral relations and instrumental in strengthening the trade and nontrade engagements between the two countries and providing essential backdoor channels of communications.

For inquiries, contact the PABC at 09497349531 or [email protected].

“The PAMM is the pre-eminent meeting between Australia and Philippine Ministers. It provides an excellent opportunity to deepen the bilateral relationship, strengthen our cooperation on regional issues and shape the agenda for the next few years” said Australian Ambassador to Manila Bill Tweddell in a statement.