THE first visit of a Cypriot foreign minister to the Philippines will take place on Oct. 7, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Monday.
Constantinos Kombos, the Republic of Cyprus’ minister of Foreign Affairs, will meet with Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro to discuss Filipino-Cypriot engagement and mutual interests.
The DFA said Mr. Kombos’ visit highlights more than 45 years of growing international cooperation.
Former Foreign Secretary Enrique A. Manalo undertook the Philippines’ first visit to Cyprus in 2024, which was the 44th anniversary of Filipino-Cypriot diplomatic relations.
Two memorandums of understanding (MoU) will also be signed after the meeting of Ms. Lazaro and Mr. Kombos, the DFA said.
The first MoU formalizes an agreement between Manila and Cyprus to host joint sporting events and share athletic expertise and training, while the second allows the two nations to mutually recognize maritime qualifications and certificates.
Cyprus is home to more than 8,000 overseas Filipinos, the DFA said. It is also a major economic partner, with bilateral trade in 2015 amounting to $4.52 million, approximately P3.44 billion. They were Manila’s 113th trading partner, 105th export market, and 115th import source. — Francessca S. Abalos