Ulaanbaatar, August 3, 2024 /MONTSAME/. The Philippines and Mongolia are natural partners in pursuit of shared interests. Though our countries are characterized by contrasting climates and geography, we are connected by meaningful commonalities.

As developing nations, we aspire to build just, humane, and resilient societies founded on freedom from want. We acknowledge that achieving sustainable and inclusive prosperity is only possible within an open, rules-based international order that is governed by international law and informed by the principles of equity and justice.

The Philippines and Mongolia are among the fastest growing economies in the world. Last year’s Global Innovation Index identified the Philippines and Mongolia among middle income countries that have exceeded performance expectations relative to our respective levels of development.

Yet we are conscious that progress is never an unfinished business. We can do more together to ensure that we leave no one behind.

We can further strengthen our bilateral cooperation in areas of common concern and which promise mutual benefit. Among the sectors we can explore are tourism, education exchange, labor, culture and sports, science, technology, and innovation, disaster risk reduction, defense, counter-terrorism, and transnational crime.

Cooperation in disaster risk reduction, in particular, is of the utmost urgency as both our nations are beset by the adverse impacts of climate change and the devastating effects of earthquakes. While our peoples have shown extraordinary strength in the face of these challenges, bilateral cooperation on DRRM can go a long way in helping us build more resilient communities.

Our diverse and dynamic external environment presents both challenges and opportunities. Current geopolitical issues, the rise of artificial intelligence and other dual- use technologies, and challenges to the rules-based international order make our cooperation even more meaningful as we navigate the evolving regional and global terrain

As such, it is incumbent upon the Philippines and Mongolia to continue to work together on the global stage to uphold the primacy of the rule of law, to promote the peaceful settlement of disputes, and to enhance the dialogue among civilizations. We must strengthen our cooperation within the ASEAN and United Nations frameworks on issues of common concern.

On the eve of the 20th anniversary of Mongolia’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, we look forward to working with Mongolia in the ASEAN Regional Forum on enhancing regional cooperation on non-proliferation and disarmament, capacity-building 

to prevent chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) terrorism, and confidence-building, among others.

I recall that last April, Mongolia hosted “Steppe Lotus”, the ARF workshop on strengthening legal frameworks to combat CBRN terrorism. Mongolia also hosted the 3rd edition of the Philippine-initiated ARF Heads of Defense Universities, Colleges, and Institutions in 1999. As we approach the Philippine Chairship of ASEAN and the ARF in 2026, I am confident that we can identify more activities we can undertake together.

Our shared advocacies and converging interests hold much potential for our partnership within the United Nations. Our countries are committed to strengthening a rules-based international order. As a founding member of the UN, the Philippines has championed the interests of developing countries from the time the UN Charter was negotiated in 1945.

Our countries have worked in partnership in this multilateral space, including through our active participation in peacekeeping missions, our promotion of the rights of children and persons with disabilities, and our pursuit of Sustainable Development Goals. We both recognize the necessity of strengthening the United Nations system.

The Philippines pursues an independent foreign policy, anchored on our Constitution, which values peace and the rule of law. This is in accord with Mongolia’s long-standing respect for the preservation of, and harmony among, cultures, and its impressive accomplishments in partnering with “third neighbors” in pursuit of its peace-oriented, open and multi-pillared foreign policy.

As such, the Philippines is honored to be among Mongolia’s most immediate “third neighbors” in Southeast Asia. We are proud of how strongly the values of democracy, human dignity, and the rule of law glitter in the Pearl of the Orient and shine through the Eternal Blue Sky.

Our countries share similar historical legacies. We share common aspirations for our people, for the region, and for the world. As we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of our formal bilateral relations, my visit to Ulaanbaatar stands as a testament to our commitment to this partnership anchored on our meaningful commonalities.

As we chart our next 50 years, let us be guided by the words of President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, and “act together for peace and solidarity in the world and for the well-being of future generations”, and of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., as we build “an international community that lives in peace, upholds the rule of law, and enables all nations to thrive in pursuit of their respective aspirations.”

Enrique A. Manalo is the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines