President Rodrigo Duterte is set to arrive today, Sunday, for a two-day official visit in Myanmar to discuss the strengthening of bilateral relations between Manila and Nay Pyi Taw.
Foreign Affairs acting secretary Enrique Manalo said Duterte and Myanmar president U Htin Kyaw will discuss broad areas involving political and economic issues, particularly on trade and agriculture.
“They’ll be discussing areas of concern on the economy and politics, and we’ll see how we can help each other and at the same time we’re hoping maybe to adopt or sign a couple of MOUs [Memorandum of Understanding] mainly on economic issues,” Manalo said.
Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Alex Chua said that two-day visit will also include discussions on improving trade and investment between the two countries.
“President Duterte’s meeting with president U Htin Kyaw, Myanmar’s first civilian president in five decades, is a concrete manifestation of the Philippines’ continued support for countries in the region,” Chua said.
Duterte’s visit coincides with the celebration of the 60th anniversary of Philippines-Myanmar bilateral relations.
Chua said the president’s visit also symbolizes the Philippines’ commitment to the shared aspiration and values of Asean.
“Commemorative activities have been held beginning last year and the President’s visit to Myanmar this year is the culmination of the celebration of this milestone in our friendly relations with Myanmar,” he said.
Chua said both leaders are set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on food security and agricultural coperation, even as Duterte is also set to meet key political figures in Myanmar.
In security and defense aspect, Duterte will meet State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to discuss regional cooperation and Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing to explore the possible deepening of bilateral defense cooperation.
Chua said that the economic relations of Philippines and Myanmar became robust since the establishment of bilateral relations in 1956.
Since 2013, Filipinos can visit Myanmar without a visa and may stay for up to 14 days.
Based on the Philippine Statistics Authority’s trade statistics, the Philippines’ top exports to Myanmar include medicines for therapeutic and prophylactic uses while the country’s major imports from Myanmar are agricultural products.
Majority of Filipinos working and living in Myanmar are professionals working as teachers, lawyers, engineers and humanitarian workers.
Chua said the number of Myanmar citizens who opt to study in the Philippines are also increasing.
“It is these exchanges between Filipinos and Myanmar nationals that strengthen our relations,” Chua said.
Chua said Duterte will travel five hours from Nay Pyi Taw to Yangon to visit and see the situation of Filipinos living there.
Yangon is the place where majority of Filipinos in Myanmar live and work, Chua said, who added that the Yangon-based Filipinos are already looking forward to meeting the president.
During the national elections, Duterte has garnered more than 56-percent votes from overses Filipino workers in Myanmar.
In 2016, the Philippines ranked as Myanmar’s 16th biggest investor.
Some of the Philippine companies that have carved their niche in this country include United Pharma, Liwayway Corp., Asia Brewery, Splash Corp., Manila Water, ComWorks, and Universal Robina Corp., to name a few.
Last year, Phinma Education, along with leading clothing brands Bench and Penshoppe, joined the list of growing Philippine companies who had put up businesses in Myanmar.