Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong will hold a four-day official visit to the Philippines, from May 16 to May 19, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has announced.
In a statement, DFA said Wong will have a bilateral meeting with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, and they are expected to discuss the issues of mutual interest, including defense and security partnership, development cooperation, 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 collaborations,” it said, adding that the visit is “an excellent opportunity” for the Philippines and Australia to renew and deepen their 77 years of relations.
The Australian Foreign Minister is also scheduled to meet President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte.
According to the foreign affairs department, Wong's visit comes after "a series of high-level exchanges between the Philippines and Australia, reflecting both countries' strong commitment to advancing their Comprehensive partnership to a higher level."
