The Indo-Pacific Region in the Eyes of the Philippines: Navigating Through Uncharted Waters

This event is organized and co-sponsored by SFU’s David Lam Centre and Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada. 

As the Indo-Pacific region witnesses dynamic shifts in geopolitics and economic landscapes, closer ties between Canada and the Philippines hold significant promise. This year, Canada and the Philippines celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations. From a memorandum of understanding on defence co-operation signed in January 2024 to the currently negotiated Canada-ASEAN free trade agreement, Canada and the Philippines have demonstrated a commitment to fostering closer ties and enhancing co-operation for the collective prosperity and stability of the Indo-Pacific. This panel aims to explore avenues for mutual benefit, address common challenges, and capitalize on emerging opportunities.

ENRIQUE A. MANALO, Secretary for Foreign Affairs

Seasoned career diplomat Ambassador Enrique A. Manalo took his oath of office before President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on July 1, 2022, as the new Secretary for Foreign Affairs. During his more than four decades of service in the Department of Foreign Affairs, Secretary Manalo was appointed Undersecretary for Policy twice. As Undersecretary for Policy, he also served as the Philippines’ Senior Official in the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting, the working-level mechanism for ASEAN policy formulation and priority-setting. Secretary Manalo is an expert in multilateral diplomacy, having served as the Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York immediately prior to being appointed as Secretary for Foreign Affairs. 

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