President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said the Philippines and New Zealand are working to elevate the two countries’ relations to a comprehensive partnership.
In his bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at the sidelines of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Lao PDR, Marcos said the Proposed Roadmap to Comprehensive Partnership 2024-2025 between the Philippines and New Zealand is currently being finalized by concerned government agencies.
“I think, the roadmap that’s being finalized now, we should have it ready by the 60th anniversary of [the] establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries,” Marcos said.
“So, I think that’s well on its way. Quite frankly, there are no real obstacles. It’s just a question of finalizing the language,” he added.
Marcos said this when Luxon asked him about the roadmap and what needs to be discussed “to keep that moving forward and to get there.”
“I think we’ve made some good progress… and continued progress on the roadmap,” Luxon said.
The Philippines and New Zealand established diplomatic relations on July 6, 1966.
Also in Lao PDR, Marcos expressed hope that the Philippines’ durian would be made available in New Zealand markets as the two countries are in negotiations for the exportation of the tropical fruit.
“We are talking about right now [with] our appropriate ministries. Ours is the Department of Agriculture for the Philippines and the Ministry for Primary Industries in New Zealand. [They] are already in discussion on how to achieve this [durian export],” Marcos told Luxon.
According to Luxon, the Philippines and New Zealand have already made good progress in various areas such as security, trade and economy. He is also hoping that pineapples would soon enter his country.
“I think on the economic front, we’ve talked about onions and pineapples. Pineapples are coming to New Zealand, onions [are] going to the Philippines, I hope. So, I think we’ve made some good progress there,” Luxon said.
New Zealand earlier requested market access for its onions to the Philippines. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
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