UAE and Philippines Strengthen Bilateral Ties During High-Level Visit
Abu Dhabi, The Gulf Observer: President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan welcomed His Excellency Ferdinand Marcos Jr., President of the Republic of the Philippines, at Qasr Al Shati in Abu Dhabi during a working visit to the UAE.
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed expressed optimism that the visit would mark a significant milestone in the development of relations between the two nations, particularly as they celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties this year.
The two leaders discussed ways to enhance cooperation in economic, trade, investment, and development fields, along with other key sectors aligned with their mutual priorities. Both sides exchanged views on various matters of shared interest.
His Highness emphasized the strong and evolving relationship between the UAE and the Philippines, highlighting the remarkable progress achieved over the years, especially in developmental initiatives. He reiterated the UAE’s commitment to advancing these ties for mutual benefit.
As part of the discussions, Sheikh Mohamed underscored the UAE’s intention to continue pursuing a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the Philippines. He noted the UAE’s role as a key trading partner for the Philippines within the ASEAN framework, where the UAE has been a Sectoral Dialogue Partner since 2022.
His Excellency Ferdinand Marcos Jr. commended the UAE’s humanitarian contributions and its global leadership in addressing shared challenges. He reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation and expressed gratitude for the UAE’s warm hospitality during his visit.
In conjunction with the visit, the two nations signed several agreements and memoranda of understanding covering diverse areas such as cultural exchange, energy transition, legal cooperation, extradition, and government modernisation.
The meeting was attended by several high-ranking officials from both sides, including H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior; H.H. Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority; and members of President Marcos Jr.’s delegation.
This visit is expected to usher in a new era of collaboration and deepen the longstanding partnership between the UAE and the Philippines.
