Metro Manila, Philippines – Luxembourg’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel will visit Manila this week to expand economic and political cooperation, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
The visit marks eight decades of diplomatic relations.
Bettel will visit on Feb. 18 to 19, in a trip that underscores Manila’s push to strengthen partnerships with European states amid shifting global and regional dynamics.
Bettel and Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro are expected to sign an agreement establishing regular bilateral consultations — a mechanism diplomats say can help sustain dialogue and coordinate positions on international issues.
The DFA said discussions will likely cover trade, finance, technology and labor mobility, areas where Luxembourg, a major European financial hub, could offer opportunities for investment and technical cooperation.
Regional security and multilateral diplomacy are also expected to be on the agenda, including the Philippines’ priorities within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as this year’s chairman and its campaign for a nonpermanent seat in the United Nations Security Council.
