Portugal wants to strengthen ties with the Philippines in the areas of maritime defense and security, among others, according to Lisbon’s top diplomat.
“We also have opportunities for defense, education, and maritime cooperation,” Portugal Foreign Minister João Gomes Cravinho said during his official visit to Manila on Friday.
He added that several Portuguese companies have expressed interest in investing in the Philippines.
Cravinho is the first Portuguese foreign minister to visit the country since 1946, according to his Philippine counterpart, Enrique Manalo.
“His official visit is a milestone to the Philippine-Portugal bilateral relations,” the foreign affairs secretary said.
Cravinho also reiterated Portugal’s support for Manila’s historic arbitration win against Beijing in the South China Sea case.
Manalo, meanwhile, said he also discussed with Cravinho how the Philippines and Portugal can strengthen trade and investment relations, as well as the importance of increasing partnerships between the two countries’ higher education and diplomatic training institutions.
CNN Philippines’ correspondent Tristan Nodalo contributed to this report.
Source : CNN