MEETING SECRETARIES. Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo (right) and United Kingdom Foreign Secretary James Cleverly during the signing of the “Joint Statement of Intent” at Diamond Hotel Manila on Tuesday (Aug. 29, 2023). Cleverly is the first British foreign secretary to visit Manila since 2016. (Photo  courtesy of Secretary Manalo) 

MANILA – The Philippines and the United Kingdom are set to develop a framework to pave the way for increased cooperation under their newly-established Enhanced Partnership, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced Tuesday.

The partnership was launched in December 2021 to strengthen UK-Philippines collaboration in key areas including defense, climate and environment, trade, maritime security and foreign policy, among others.

Visiting UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo formally signed on Tuesday the “Joint Statement of Intent” to develop the framework agreement, which will define the scope of the two states’ bilateral cooperation under the Philippines-UK Enhanced Partnership.

“The UK is building enduring partnerships and the Philippines is one of those key partners,” Cleverly said.

“We are like-minded countries, we share many values and I am certain that the prosperity of the UK and the prosperity of the Philippines will be very closely interwoven for many years to come,” he added.

Apart from boosting cooperation, the two foreign secretaries also discussed “pressing and evolving regional and international issues of mutual concern” during a bilateral meeting at the Diamond Hotel in Manila.

“The UK is an important long-standing partner of the Philippines, especially in this time of geographic upheavals, economic disruptions, and challenges to the rule of law,” Manalo said.

“Foreign Secretary Cleverly’s visit to Manila, the first British foreign secretary to do so since 2016, heartens us since it also signals the strengthening of our bilateral ties in trade, investments, security, maritime cooperation, and other fields,” he added.

Before meeting Manalo, Cleverly visited the Philippine Coast Guard to discuss cooperation on maritime security, counter-terrorism and environmental protection.

The UK was among the foreign governments that expressed serious concern over the August 5 water cannoning incident involving the Chinese Coast Guard while a Philippine boat was en route to resupply the troops stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin.

Cleverly also paid a courtesy call on President Ferdinand R. Marcos on Tuesday.

His official visit to Manila is part of his series of trips for trade and security talks in the region. (PNA)