Ambassador Dr. Aman Rashid paid a courtesy call on Ms. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Speaker, House of Representatives of the Philippines

Ambassador Dr. Aman Rashid paid a courtesy call on Ms. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Speaker, House of Representatives of the Philippines in her office on 13 November 2018. Mr. Feliciano Belmonte, Chairman Foreign Relations Committee of Philippine Congress was also present during the meeting.

Ambassador congratulated her on assumption of the office of the Speaker of Philippine House of Representatives in July 2018. He briefed her on the vision of new Government in Pakistan and its desire to further develop its foreign relations with friendly countries including the Philippines.

Ambassador apprised Speaker Arroyo about formation of a Parliamentary Friendship Group in Pakistan Senate and urged her to initiate formation of a similar group in the Philippine Parliament so as to encourage exchange of views and visits among politicians and law- makers of both countries. He also shared his idea of raising a Sister City Agreement between Karachi and Metro Manila to capitalize on commercial, social and cultural commonalities of both cities.

Speaker Arroyo assured the Ambassador of her cooperation in furthering Pakistan- Philippines bilateral relations in a multifaceted manner. She recalled her state visit to Pakistan in 1962 when she had accompanied her father, Mr. Diosdado Macapagal (late), the then President of the Philippines. She stated that the upcoming 70th anniversary of Pakistan- Philippine Diplomatic Relations in 2019 should be marked by an exchange of high-level visits between the two countries.

Being the daughter of President Macapagal (1961- 65), and herself a politician since 1992 when elected as Senator and later as longest- serving President from 2001- 2010, Speaker Arroyo has a vast experience of governance at the highest level, and is loved by the Filipino public at large.

Manila
14 November 2018