Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. (left) receives Chile Ambassador Claudio Alberto Rojas Rachel (right) at the Department of Foreign Affairs on 02 October 2020.

08 October 2020 -- Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. received Chile Ambassador-designate Claudio Alberto Rojas Rachel today at the Department of Foregin Affairs (DFA). Ambassador-designate Rojas arrived in Manila on 09 September 2020, succeeding former Ambassador José Miguel Capdevila Villarroel. The Secretary was joined by Undersecretary Brigido D. Dulay, Assistant Secretary Maria Lumen B. Isleta and Special Assistant Therese R. Cantada.

Secretary Locsin and Ambassador Rojas took stock of the state of Philippine-Chile relations, including preparations to commemorate the upcoming 75th Anniversary of the Establishment of PHL-CHL Bilateral Relations in 2021 and the hosting by the Philippines of the 6th Philippine-Chile Bilateral Consultation, also in 2021.

Both officials reaffirmed their commitment to further boost cooperation in key areas including trade and investment, disaster risk management, agriculture and people-to-people relations. Secretary Locsin and Ambassador Rojas also took the opportunity to discuss important regional and multilateral developments at the United Nations, ASEAN, APEC and the Pacific Alliance, on various issues such as human rights, and development cooperation.

The Secretary and the Chilean Ambassador expressed optimism in their shared desire to deepen overall ties, intensify bilateral cooperation, and expand economic opportunities between the Philippines and Chile. END