H.E. Mr. J. Eduardo Malaya, Undersecretary (Vice-Minister), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Philippines visited the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service (SSIFS), Ministry of External Affairs of India on 11 March 2020. He was accompanied by H. E. Mr. Ramon S. Bagatsing, Ambassador of Philippines to India.
Amb. J.S. Mukul, Dean (SSIFS) welcomed Undersecretary Malaya and H. E. Mr. Ramon S. Bagatsing. He briefed them about SSIFS and its training programmes. He mentioned that over 3400 diplomats from over 185 countries have participated in SSIFS’s training programmes. So far, 23 diplomats from Philippines have participated in Courses for foreign diplomats conducted by SSIFS - 20 in Special Course for ASEAN, 2 in Special Course for ASEM and 1 in the Professional Course for Foreign Diplomats.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between SSIFS and Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Philippines on 05 October 2007. Amb. Mukul and Undersecretary Malaya discussed steps to strengthen cooperation between the two sides within the framework of the MoU.
India and the Philippines formally established diplomatic relations on 26 November 1949, shortly after both countries gained independence [Philippines in 1946 and India in 1947]. Relations between the two countries have been friendly and problem free. Both countries have historical shared values and commonalities, such as anti colonialism, South-South cooperation, a strong democratic polity, an independent judiciary and press, and the wide use of the English language. When India launched its Look East Policy and intensified partnership with ASEAN in 1992, this also resulted in intensified relations with countries in the region including the Philippines, both bilaterally and in the regional context. With the Act East Policy initiated in 2014, the relationship with the Philippines has diversified further into political-security; trade and industry and people-to-people realms.
New Delhi
11 March 2020