By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora
MANILA – Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo is set to undertake a working visit to the United States, where he will meet Secretary of State Marco Rubio and United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on June 9 and 11, respectively.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Manalo departed Manila on Saturday.
He will meet Rubio to discuss “matters of mutual interests” in Washington, D.C.
The DFA has yet to provide details on what specific issues will be brought up during the meeting.
After the Washington, D.C. leg, the DFA chief will travel to New York City to keynote the celebration of the 127th Philippine Independence Day and an event in the auspices of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
“In my official meetings in New York, I will affirm the unwavering commitment of the Philippines, as a founding member of the United Nations, to remain actively engaged in all discussions to support the UN and work with UN member states for global action on pressing challenges of our time,” Manalo said in a pre-departure statement.
“Solidarity around the principles and the common purpose for international peace and security underpinning the UN Charter must prevail especially as the United Nations marks its 80th anniversary this year,” he added.
Manalo was appointed as the next Philippine Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations in New York.
He will replace Ambassador Antonio Lagdameo, who is set to retire soon. (PNA)
