Pakistan, Philippines: Forging stronger ties for brighter years ahead
PAKISTAN and the Philippines have been partners for 75 years. Moving forward, both nations are optimistic of stronger ties and cooperation for a brighter future.
Pakistan-Philippine bilateral relations
Pakistan and the Philippines have enjoyed reasonably good and rather resilient ties of friendship during last 75 years, regulated through 29 cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) or memoranda of agreements in political, economic, commercial, defence, cultural and social fields.
The recent one on «Defence Cooperation» was signed on May 5, 2022. Official bilateral relations between the two countries commenced with the establishment of the Philippines' Consulate in Karachi on Sept. 9, 1949, followed by the opening of the Philippine Embassy in Karachi in 1956 and the Pakistan Embassy in Manila in September 1957.
In 1954, both countries became alliance partners in the United Stated led Southeast Asia Treaty Organization.
Pakistan's relations with the Philippines form an important component of «Vision East Asia Policy,» envisaged in 2003.
The Philippines, a founding member of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) is a supporter of our efforts to strengthen our institutional linkages with Asean, including our membership to Asean Regional Forum and Asia Europe Meeting, as well as our quest to attain Full Dialogue Partnership status with Asean.
AdvertisementInstitutionalized mechanisms in place
Two institutionalized mechanisms are in place between the two countries namely; Bilateral Policy Consultation Talks (PCTs) and Philippines-Pakistan Joint Economic Commission (JEC).
The 6th round of PCTs at the Foreign Secretaries level was held in January 2018. The first ever JEC meeting was held in Islamabad in February 2018.
Bilateral cooperation
AdvertisementBoth countries have signed 29 bilateral agreements or MoUs over the past 7 decades related to consular matters, air services agreement, cultural matters, investment protection matters and for parliamentary cooperation as well.
The latest agreement concluded was on bilateral defence cooperation in May 2022.
Trade relations
The bilateral trade between Pakistan and the Philippines for the
