THE Philippines is forming “alliances” and “coalitions” with other nations in the face of regional challenges, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Tuesday.
Marcos made the remark as he received Ambassador of Sweden Annika Thunborg and Ambassador of Papua New Guinea Betty Palash in separate farewell calls in Malacañang.
Marcos thanked Ambassador Thunborg for supporting the Philippines and “bringing our two countries closer together.”
“I have to once again express our gratitude for the support you’ve shown to the Philippines in terms of the problems, challenges that we are facing here,” Marcos told the Swedish envoy.
“It is very important to us and to the Philippines, the alliance, the coalition we are trying to form with our friends around the world,” he added.
Citing China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Marcos said that the Philippines has been expanding engagements with its allies, including the United States, while also beefing up the capabilities of its armed forces.
Thunborg highlighted the importance of forging strong partnerships with like-minded partners and upholding the international rule of law.
“The pleasure is all ours, and it is extremely important in the world we live in today to forge strong partnerships with like-minded partners, so we are happy to see this partnership grow, especially in the last two years,” Thunborg said.
“We stand firmly behind that both of our countries are latched [on] to the international rule of law and the international rules-based system, and we are very grateful for the support that the Philippines has shown Ukraine in the situation that we see today,” she added.
Thunborg presented her Letter of Credence as Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to the Philippines in October 2021.
Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Sweden were established on Jan. 17, 1947.
Meanwhile, Marcos thanked Ambassador Palaso for her work in strengthening the bilateral relations between the Philippines and Papua New Guinea.
“This is one of those duties that are bittersweet because we say goodbye to friends. You have stayed in the Philippines in relatively long [period] ambassador, five years,” Marcos told Palaso during the Palace call.
Marcos said that he expects Palaso’s successor to continue working on various areas of cooperation, particularly on trade, agriculture, and fisheries.
In 1975, the Philippines was among the first countries to establish formal diplomatic relations with Papua New Guinea, declared and recognized as a sovereign nation on Sept. 16, 1975, after 70 years of Australian administration.
The two nations will mark next year the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations.
In terms of partnership, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea have the Memorandum of Understanding on Fisheries Cooperation.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) requested the Department of Foreign Affairs’ final inputs and comments last February to renew the agreement on fisheries cooperation.
BFAR has been negotiating for the draft agreement since 2022. The agreement, which expired February 1, however, does not provide for its automatic extension upon its expiration.
There are four major Philippine distant-water fishing companies operating in Papua New Guinea waters: Frabelle Fishing Corp., RD Fishing Group (with six subsidiary fishing companies), TSP Marine Industries, and Trans-Pacific Journey Fishing Corp.
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