Philippines and Poland strengthen cooperation, honor shared values

The Department of Foreign Affairs announced today the successful convening of the 3rd Philippines – Poland Political Consultations which took place on May 6 in Warsaw, Poland. Assistant Secretary for European Affairs Maria Zeneida Angara Collinson headed the Philippine Delegation, while the Polish Delegation was led by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Undersecretary of State Mr. Artur Nowak-Far.

The meeting highlighted cooperation in the fields of trade, defense, educational and cultural promotion, as well as technical exchanges, upcoming high-level visits of key Philippine officials to Poland in the latter half of the year, and the proposed re-opening of the Polish diplomatic mission in Manila.

In their discussion on maritime security, the two governments agreed on the importance of peaceful resolution of disputes through the adherence to, and observance of, international law, including UNCLOS.

An exhibit and seminar on Phlippine-Polish relations was held after the political consultations. Jointly organized by the Philippine Embassy in Warsaw and the Polish Parliament or Sejm, the seminar attracted more than 150 participants eager to know more about the Philippines.

During the seminar, Assistant Secretary Collinson spoke on the strongly held values of freedom, democracy, as well as shared faith and parallelisms in history which provide a solid platform for enhancement of bilateral relations.

Press release courtesy of the Department of Foreign Affairs, 15 May 2014.