Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro (left) and South African Deputy Minister for International Relations and Cooperation each holds a signed copy of the Memorandum of Understanding for Close Cooperation in the field of Diplomatic Training and Research between the Foreign Service Institute of the Philippines and the Diplomatic Training, Research and Development of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa. The agreement was signed during the 5th Philippines-South Africa Bilateral Consultative Forum held in Pretoria on 23 February 2023.
27 February 2023 – The Philippines and South Africa successfully concluded their 5th Bilateral Consultative Forum (BCF) at the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation in Pretoria on 23 February 2023.
The Philippine delegation was headed by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, while Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Candith Mashego-Dlamini led the South African delegation.
The meeting provided an opportunity for the Philippines and South Africa to review the progress of their bilateral relations and discuss ways to further enhance cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, air services, defense, education, energy, judicial cooperation, maritime cooperation, and tourism. Both countries recognized the potential of mining, as well as disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation as new areas of cooperation.
Both sides agreed to expedite or revive negotiations on pending agreements on agriculture; defense; merchant shipping; science, technology and innovation; mineral cooperation; mutual recognition of STCW certificates; and visa waiver for diplomatic and official passport holders.
Aside from discussing bilateral issues, both sides exchanged views on domestic developments as well as on a number of regional and international issues. The topics discussed included updates on ASEAN community-building efforts, developments in the Southern African Development Community, Russia-Ukraine War, West Philippine Sea issue, climate change, and South Africa’s formal application to become a sectoral dialogue partner of ASEAN and its chairmanship of BRICS this year.
The meeting ended on a positive note with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on diplomatic research and training between the Foreign Service Institute of the Philippines and the Diplomatic Training, Research and Development of DIRCO.
The BCF serves as a platform for Filipino and South African policymakers to discuss issues of common interest. In light of the deepening engagement between the two countries, the 5th meeting in Pretoria saw the level of representation elevated to Undersecretary/Deputy Minister. The meeting was also convened ahead of the two countries’ celebration of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations on 1 November 2023.
Members of the Philippine delegation included Philippine Ambassador to South Africa H.E. Noralyn Jubaira Baja, OMEAA Assistant Secretary Mardomel Celo D. Melicor, Deputy Undersecretary Hans Mohaimin L. Siriban, Director Alex O. Vallespin, First Secretary and Consul Maurice A. Tiempo, Attaché Paul Vincent M. Fodra and Attaché Ma. Chynna Lyn D.S. Abaigar. END
