Manalo cites importance of PH ties with all Caribbean states

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo emphasized the importance of the Philippines' partnership with the Caribbean community, pointing out the shared interests in maritime security, climate change, and multilateralism, among others.

- By RAYMUND ANTONIO

The DFA chief was invited to deliver an address before the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) of the Member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) during its 28th meeting on May 8 to 9 in Frigate Bay, Saint Kitts and Nevis.

"Secretary Manalo's address highlighted the commonality of interests between the Philippines and Caribbean states as maritime nations with shared challenges and which have growing influence in shaping action on global issues like climate change, fairer global finance, and multilateralism based on international law," the DFA said in a statement.

Manalo's address, considered a historic engagement as it symbolizes the first time a Philippine foreign secretary was invited to the meeting, highlighted the solidarity between the Philippines and the Caribbean countries on a host of issues—climate justice, resilience and sustainability, and oceans governance and maritime security based on the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of The Sea (UNCLOS).