Israeli Foreign Minister Eliyahu (Eli) Cohen arrived in Manila on June 4, 2023 to hold bilateral talks with his Philippine counterpart.
The two-day visit is expected to boost the historically friendly relations between Israel and the Philippines, established through the “open-door immigration” policy of then President Manuel Luis Quezon.
It is also aimed at enhancing current partnerships in the areas of agriculture, water, innovation and technology, and economic cooperation.
FM Cohen is expected to pay his courtesy call on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., conduct bilateral meetings with Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, strengthen trade and economic cooperation with National Economic and Development Authority Director-General Arsenio Balisacan, sign agreements, participate in meetings with public and private sectors, among others.
Accompanying FM Cohen is an Israeli business delegation that will connect with Filipino business companies to increase trade and economic cooperation.
“Israel and the Philippines are celebrating their 65th anniversary of friendly relations this year. The visit of Israel’s Foreign Minister to the Philippines reassures that Israel is a friend and an ally of the Philippines, and we see the relations flourishing further in the years to come,” Israeli Ambassador Ilan Fluss said.
The visit of the Israeli Foreign Minister to the Philippines is a strong political and economic message-reciprocity to the visit of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to Israel in 2018 which paved the way for the opening of the Israeli Defense and Economic Attaché offices in Manila, signing of bilateral agreements on OFWs, and expanding defense cooperation.
