Dhaka, 12 February 2025 – Philippine Ambassador to Bangladesh, Her Excellency Nina P. Cainglet, paid a courtesy call on Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Mr. Md. Jashim Uddin on 12 February 2025. The meeting underscored the strong bilateral relations between the Philippines and Bangladesh, and explored opportunities for further cooperation in various sectors, including trade, investment, tourism, education, and cultural exchange.

During the discussions, Ambassador Cainglet highlighted the Philippines’ interest in expanding economic cooperation, in view of the relatively low trade volume. Both sides agreed on the importance of identifying key sectors for growth, particularly in agriculture, tourism and education, which have shown significant potential. Ambassador Cainglet emphasized the Philippines’ commitment to closer partnerships through increased business exchanges and regular meetings.

Foreign Secretary Uddin reiterated Bangladesh's appreciation for the long-standing friendship between the two nations, recalling the Philippines’ early recognition of Bangladesh’s independence in 1972. He expressed Bangladesh’s readiness to collaborate in areas of mutual interest, including enhancing people-to-people ties, expanding direct air links between the two countries and cultural cooperation.

Both sides agreed on the importance of continuing high-level engagements, with discussions on scheduling the third round of foreign policy consultations this year. The leaders also explored cooperation in disaster management and climate change adaptation, where both countries can share best practices and strengthen resilience.

Ambassador Cainglet welcomed closer cooperation in multilateral fora, and highlighted Bangladesh’s strengths in areas such as disaster management and climate change adaptation, which can also serve as key points for engagement with ASEAN. The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both parties reaffirming their commitment to fostering a deeper and more dynamic partnership between the Philippines and Bangladesh. END

Photo credits: Ministry of Foreign Affairs