(Eagle News) — The Philippines on Thursday, Aug. 23, reiterated its readiness to extend assistance to Indonesia, following the earthquakes that struck Lombok and that left hundreds dead.
“As a neighbor and close friend in (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations), we stand ready to lend a helping hand much like you have done when we were struck with disasters,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano told Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi during his recent official visit to Jakarta, a Department of Foreign Affairs statement said.
During the meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Leehiong Wee said Cayetano also discussed with Marsudi “the convening of the Philippines-Indonesia Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC), a mechanism to review and shape relations between the two countries.”
“Foreign Minister Marsudi also conveyed to the Secretary the ratification by Jakarta of the Philippine-Indonesia Exclusive Economic Zone Boundary Agreement and expressed hope for its ratification by the Philippines,” Wee said.
Cayetano, the ambassador said, also asked for Indonesia’s help in repatriating Filipino fishermen apprehended for alleged fishing violations.
Marsudi also expressed Indonesia’s support for the Philippine peace process, the DFA said.
Cayetano and Wee were accompanied by Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Affairs Meynard Montealegre, Philippine Permanent Representative to ASEAN Elizabeth Buensuceso, and Philippine Consul General in Manado Oscar Orcine.
Indonesia is home to around 8,000 Filipinos.
