PH AMBASSADOR DELIVERS LECTURE ON PH FOREIGN POLICY TO KENYAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

 Philippine Ambassador to Kenya Marie Charlotte G. Tang explains the maritime advocacies of the Philippines, particularly the primacy of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the importance of the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal award on the South China Sea case.

NAIROBI, 15 February 2024 – Philippine Ambassador to Kenya Marie Charlotte G. Tang delivered a lecture on Philippine foreign policy to students of Strathmore University (SU) on 14 February 2024 in Nairobi.

The lecture is the first in the two-part “Speaker Series” with ASEAN ambassadors, organized by the SU-School of Humanities and Social Sciences (SHSS) in collaboration with the ASEAN Committee in Nairobi (ACN), composed of the embassies/high commission of the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Around 80 International Relations and law students attended the lecture.

In her presentation titled, “The Philippines’ Perspectives on Sustainability and Security Amid Changing Regional and Global Dynamics”, Ambassador Tang explained how Philippine foreign policy is shaped by the country’s development imperatives and aspirations (as stated in AmBisyon Natin 2040), the external strategic environment where it operates in, and its own values as a democratic society.

She emphasized that creating a prosperous, inclusive, and resilient society for all Filipinos requires a peaceful and stable regional and global environment, and it is in this context that the Philippines seeks a rules-based international order and supports effective and inclusive multilateralism.

Ambassador Tang discussed the Philippines’ priorities and achievements in the areas of climate action, labor migration governance, and the sustainable use of the oceans. She emphasized the Philippines’ advocacy for a rules-based maritime governance, including the importance of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal award.

On the Philippines’ engagements with Kenya, Ambassador Tang cited recent milestones including the convening of the 1^st meeting of the Philippines-Kenya Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) in Nairobi, and the visit of a high-level Kenyan delegation to Manila for benchmarking on best practices on labor migration, both in 2023. She added that the Philippines seeks to pursue closer partnerships with all nations, echoing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s pronouncement on the Philippines being “a friend to all, and an enemy to none”.

Apart from Ambassador Tang, Indonesian Ambassador to Kenya Dr. Mohamad Hery Saripudin delivered a presentation on Indonesian foreign policy.

The lecture of the ASEAN ambassadors is part of the ACN's outreach to the youth and the academic community in Kenya, towards raising their awareness of ASEAN and its member states. END.

From left to right: High Commissioner Ruzaimi bin Mohamad of Malaysia, Ambassador Tang, Dr. Magdalene Adhiambo Ngala-Dimba, Dean of the Strathmore Univeristy (SU)-School of Humanities and Social Sciences (SHSS); Dr. Arbogast Akidiva, SHSS Academic Director for Bachelor of Arts Courses; and Ambassador Mohamad Hery Saripudin of Indonesia. 

Ambassador Tang (left) and Ambassador Saripudin (right) during the open forum segment of the lecture.

The ambassadors and officials of ASEAN missions in Nairobi, with officials and students of SU-SHSS.

PH SECRETARY OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY VISITS PH EMBASSY IN NAIROBI

DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy (fourth from left), along with his wife, Mme. Judy Christine Uy, and Executive Assistant Patricia Nicole Uy, were warmly welcomed by the officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Nairobi.

NAIROBI, 30 January 2024 – Secretary Ivan John Uy of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) paid a visit to the Philippine Embassy in Nairobi on 23 January 2024, following his participation as the head of the Philippine delegation to the G77 Third South Summit held in Kampala, Uganda.

During his visit, Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang provided Secretary Uy with an overview of the Embassy's activities and initiatives in Kenya, as well as the 11 other sub-Saharan African countries under its jurisdiction. They also discussed potential collaborations between the Philippines and these countries in the fields of ICT and BPO. END

PH EMBASSY IN NAIROBI JOINS PH DELEGATIONS TO THE NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT AND G-77 SOUTH SUMMITS IN UGANDA

The Philippine delegation to the 19^th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is led by Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo (seventh from left).

NAIROBI, 29 January 2024 – The Philippine Embassy in Nairobi joined the Philippine delegations to the 19^th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the Group of 77 (G77) Third South Summit held back-to-back from 15 to 22 January 2024 at the Speke Munyonyo Resort in Kampala, Uganda.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique A. Manalo led the Philippine delegation to the NAM Summit held on 19-20 January 2024, while Secretary Ivan John Uy of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) headed the Philippine delegation to the G77 Third South Summit held on 21-22 January 2024.

Reflecting on the Summit theme “Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence”, Secretary Manalo urged the NAM, composed of 121 Member States, to strengthen their solidarity as a Movement “of developing countries, by developing countries, and for developing countries”. He also urged NAM to revitalize itself to be able to rise up to common global challenges including climate change, and champion an open, inclusive and rules-based international order.

Meanwhile, Secretary Uy of the DICT reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to G77 as a platform for advancing the interests of developing countries and promoting South-South cooperation including in the areas of digital inclusion and innovation.

The Philippine delegations also held a series of bilateral meetings with counterparts, including from Uganda, Tanzania, Seychelles, and Rwanda towards the strengthening of bilateral relations and promoting cooperation in multilateral fora.

The participation of Secretary Manalo and Secretary Uy in the two Summits in Uganda signaled not only the Philippines’ solidarity with the causes of developing countries, but also its strong desire to deepen cooperation with African countries.

The Philippine Embassy in Nairobi, headed by Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang, oversees the Philippines’ relations with Uganda. END

Secretary Enrique A. Manalo delivers the Philippine statement at the NAM Summit. 

Secretary Enrique A. Manalo (right) and Tanzanian Minister for Foreign Affairs January Yusuk Makamba (left) discuss ways to enhance Philippines-Tanzania cooperation including in the areas of trade, investments, agriculture, and fisheries. 

 Secretary Enrique A. Manalo (right) meets with Seychelles Foreign Minister Sylvestre Radegonde (left) on how the cordial relations between the Philippines and Seychelles can be further strengthened.  

 Secretary Enrique A. Manalo (third from left) holds a bilateral meeting with Gen. James Kabarebe (Ret.), Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in Charge of Regional Cooperation of the Republic of Rwanda (second from left), on the sidelines of the Summit.

 Undersecretary for Multilateral and Economic International Relations Charles Jose of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) (left) meets with Mr. John Mulimba, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in charge of Regional Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uganda during which they discussed opportunities for South-South cooperation.

 Secretary Ivan John Uy of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) (second from left) meets with his Ugandan counterpart, Minister Chris Baryomusni of the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance (third from left). They are joined by Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang, Philippine non-resident envoy to Uganda (leftmost); Ambassador Betty Bigombe, Ugandan non-resident envoy to the Philippines (fourth from left); and Dr. Aminah Zawedde, Principal Secretary of the Ugandan Ministry of ICT and National Guidance (rightmost).

Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang (fifth from left) with some members of the Philippine delegation at the NAM Senior Officials Meeting, ahead of the NAM Summit.