The Manila Times
THE Philippines and Indonesia reaffirmed their long-standing partnership and expanded areas of cooperation during the 8th ministerial meeting of the Philippines-Indonesia Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC), officials said on Friday. The meeting was co-chaired by Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro and Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono. The commission serves as the primary dialogue mechanism between the two Southeast Asian neighbors, providing a platform to review engagements, identify new areas of collaboration and implement initiatives under the Philippines-Indonesia Plan of Action (2022–2027). Discussions during the meeting were described as “comprehensive and productive,” covering a wide range of priority areas, including: – Enhancement of border agreements. – Strengthening defense and maritime cooperation. – Expansion of trade and investment ties. – Energy collaboration. – Food security initiatives. – Legal cooperation. – People-to-people exchanges. The two sides highlighted the importance of ensuring the welfare of Persons of Filipino Descent residing in Indonesia. The ministers exchanged views on key regional concerns, including developments in Myanmar, tensions along the Cambodia–Thailand border and ongoing disputes in the South China Sea. They also acknowledged the broader implications of the Middle East conflict, particularly its impact on energy supply and food security across the region. The ministers committed to supporting regional approaches within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to address shared challenges. Ahead of the ministerial meeting, a Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) was held, co-led by Philippine Assistant Secretary Marshall Louis Alferez and Indonesian Director General Santo Darmosumarto. The SOM reviewed the status of existing agreements and negotiations aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two maritime nations. The JCBC was established through a memorandum of understanding signed in 1993, but had not convened for a decade until its revival under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Philippines and Indonesia established diplomatic relations on Nov. 24, 1949, making it Indonesia’s oldest bilateral relationship in the region and among the earliest for the Philippines in Southeast Asia. The two countries are founding members of Asean.
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