The seventh meeting of the political, economic, and cultural consultations between Iran and the Philippines was held in Manila on Tuesday after a seven-year hiatus.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Baqeri and Undersecretary for Bilateral and ASEAN affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines Maria Theresa P. Lazaro co-chaired the meeting.
The representatives of the Philippines’ Department of Agriculture, Department of Science and Technology and Department of Tourism Planning and Promotions were also present in the meeting.
Pointing to the common threats that Iran and the Philippines are facing in the changing world of today, Baqeri said the international conditions necessitate closer interaction and cooperation between the two nations.
The Iranian deputy minister also denounced the presence of outsiders in the West and East Asia as a source of insecurity, describing regional interaction as the sole way to the settlement of problems and establishment of sustainable peace and stability.
For her part, the Filipino diplomat expressed hope that the results of the meeting would serve as a road map to the expansion of bilateral, regional and international cooperation between the two Asian states.