MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines and the Kingdom of Bhutan formally established diplomatic relations on Monday, 6 October 2025, making the country the 6th ASEAN state and the 58th country with which Bhutan has diplomatic relations.
The establishment of diplomatic relations was formalized during the signing of the Joint Communique in New Delhi, with H.E. Josel F. Ignacio, Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to India, and H.E. Major General Vetsop Namgyel, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bhutan to India.
The ceremonies were hosted by the Royal Bhutanese Embassy, attended by diplomats and personnel from both Embassies.
According to the Philippine Embassy, both Ambassadors “extolled” the significance the decision of both countries to formalize the relationship in their respective addresses at the occasion.
“Today, we have given flesh to the mutual aspiration of our governments and peoples to promote mutual understanding and strengthen friendship and cooperation, guided by the principles of the UN Charter and international law,” said Ambassador Ignacio.
Ignacio believed that the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two states will usher in a “new epoch” for Philippines-Bhutan cooperation.
“We foresee engagements between both our countries gaining new momentum—in economic interaction; people-to-people, tourism and cultural exchanges; and cooperation in multilateral fora to advance shared advocacies”, the Ambassador declared.
Philippine Ambassador to India H.E. Josel F. Ignacio and H.E. Major General Vetsop Namgyel, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bhutan to India, sign the Joint Communique’, formalizing the diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Bhutan. (Photo courtesy of Embassy of the Philippines in India)
Meanwhile, Ambassador Namgyel underscored the two countries’ warm relations and fruitful cooperation, even prior to formal diplomatic ties.
“Over the years, Bhutan has benefited from education and training opportunities in the Philippines for our students and officials—through the Colombo Plan, the Asian Development Bank, and the JICA Third Country Program. Many Bhutanese students have completed undergraduate and master’s degrees in Philippine universities”, Ambassador Namgyel cited.
He also conveyed Bhutan’s appreciation for the Philippines’ contribution to the Kingdom’s De-Suung (“Guardian of Peace”) Skilling Program, under which 17 Filipino expert trainers to date have provided skills development training for Bhutanese youth.
Ambassador Namgyel expressed his government’s commitment “to work closely with the Philippine Embassy to take our friendship and cooperation to new heights in the years ahead.”
In keeping with Bhutanese tradition, the signing ceremony concluded with a simple reception that opened with the partaking of Suja Desi—Bhutan’s traditional butter tea paired with sweet saffron rice—followed by a shared meal of Filipino and Bhutanese dishes, the Embassy shared.
