Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro and Kenya’s Director General for Political and Diplomatic Affairs Josphat Maikara discussed key regional and multilateral issues during the second session of the Kenya-Philippines Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation. Lazaro said the consultations tackled areas of cooperation and support in multilateral fora.
She welcomed the holding of the second political consultations, co-chaired by DFA Assistant Secretary Germinia Aguilar-Usudan and Director-General Maikara. Kenya’s State Department for Foreign Affairs said the discussions covered strengthening trade ties, education, maritime issues, labor and diaspora concerns, security cooperation, and disaster management.
Both delegations agreed to elevate the JCBC to ministerial level to further advance shared interests. They emphasized the importance of enhancing people-to-people exchanges, boosting tourism, and improving trade, which currently favors the Philippines.
The delegations also proposed pursuing Memoranda of Understanding in agriculture, tourism, the blue economy, labor mobility, and diaspora management. Kenya, the statement noted, is eager to learn best practices in these sectors.
Officials from both countries stressed the value of sustained engagement to expand cooperation and promote mutual development goals. The meeting underscored long-term plans to deepen bilateral relations.
