President Duterte to go on official visit to Thailand—DFA

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday said President Rodrigo R. Duterte will undertake an official visit to the Kingdom of Thailand from March 20-22, 2017. (Photo: Simeon Celi Jr./ PCOO)

MANILA—The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday said President Rodrigo R. Duterte will undertake an official visit to the Kingdom of Thailand from March 20-22, 2017.

In a press briefing, Acting DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo said President Duterte and Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha are scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting where they are expected to discuss issues of mutual concern, including political, economic, agriculture, energy, education, and defense cooperation.

He said the three-day visit of the President is expected to share with Thai officials information on various developments in the country, as well as the priorities and programs of the Philippines for its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2017.

”The President is also scheduled to meet members of the Filipino community. There are more than 16,000 Filipinos living and working in Thailand,” he told reporters covering DFA.

Bilateral relations between the Philippines and Thailand will reach 68 years in June 2017.

“The relations have always been strong and vibrant, with exchanges at the highest levels taking place regularly since the establishment of relations in 1949,” Manalo pointed out.