MANILA – Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski will undertake an official visit to the Philippines from Sept. 3 to 5, coinciding with the ongoing celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Poland.
In a press statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed that the visit marks the “first standalone visit” to the Philippines by a Polish Foreign Minister.
“The visit to the Philippines is part of the Polish Foreign Minister’s official travel to Southeast Asia,” the DFA stated.
In a report by TVP Info, a Polish free-to-air television news channel run by public state broadcaster TVP, it stated that Sikorski’s agenda include high-level meetings with leaders in Singapore, Malaysia and Philippines.
“He is to be joined by Deputy Defense Minister Paweł Zalewski and Deputy Agriculture Minister Michał Kołodziejczak,” the report said.
The DFA also mentioned that Sikorski will meet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo “to discuss ways to further strengthen Philippines-Poland relations and exchange views on regional and international issues.”
He will also meet with other high-level officials of the Philippine government, the DFA added.
Meanwhile, the Polish minister is also scheduled to meet with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., alongside Defense Minister Zalewski’s talks with the Philippine Air Force Commander Stephen P. Parreno, according to the TVP Info report.
“Poland has already established a solid defense relationship with the Philippines, having supplied the country with Polish-made Sokół and Black Hawk helicopters,” the report said.
“Zalewski's objective is to ensure the continuation of these defense partnerships and further Poland's influence in the region,” the report added.
Minister Sikorski previously visited the Philippines in 2006 in his capacity as Defense Minister, the DFA mentioned.
