Opening Remarks by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at the Philippines-Paraguay Bilateral Meeting

Your Excellency President Palacios;

Esteemed members of the Philippine and Paraguayan delegations,

Good morning.

Magandang umaga.

Buenos dias.

President Peña, it gives me great pleasure to finally meet with you. Thank you for graciously accepting our invitation to visit with us here in the Philippines.

And this is all despite the considerable distance between your country and the Philippines. But we have in the past made some strides in our engagement and exchanges in recent years.

Most importantly, the inaugural convening of the Philippines-Paraguay Bilateral Consultation Mechanism meeting that was held in 2022.

Our meeting today will help bilateral relations deepen and we will find ways to enhance existing cooperation to chart the course for a reinvigorated, productive, and sustained collaboration.

Thus, as we convene this historic bilateral meeting, the Philippines and us Filipinos, who – as I was explaining to you, claim to be the only Latin country in Asia – once again, extend our hand of friendship and partnership to Paraguay as we continue to build our relations towards a future where our two peoples enjoy the benefits of stronger political, economic, and people-to-people ties.

Mr. President, I look forward to a productive and collaborative meeting.

Thank you very much. Maraming salamat. Muchas gracias.

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