(MENAFN- Asia Times) MANILA – Palestine is on a diplomatic mission in the region and on Tuesday forged an agreement for regular consultations with the Philippines, the incoming chairman of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc.

Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin's visit to Manila came a day after the UN Security Council passed a resolution drafted by the United States Monday that is seen to move the fragile ceasefire in Gaza towards more meaningful reconstruction in the ruined enclave.

Thirteen of the council's 15 members voted in favor of the resolution, while China and Russia abstained, but did not veto the measure. While Palestine and Israel have already agreed to the first phase of a 20-point plan in Gaza, this resolution is seen as a key to legitimizing a transitional government that could bring more stability.

“This high-level visit is reflective of our growing partnership and our mutual commitment to further strengthen our cooperation,” Filipino Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro told a joint news conference with Shahin after bilateral talks.

Latest stories

Would an EU 'drone wall' stop Russian airspace incursions?

America's AI giants surging strong and swift into India

Japan's no longer ambiguous stance on Taiwan

“We both agreed that it is high time for our countries to forge more robust and practical cooperation in areas of mutual interest,” Lazaro said. Shahin is the highest Palestinian Authority official to have visited the Philippines since diplomatic ties were forged 36 years ago.

The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a regular“structured bilateral mechanism of consultations,” Lazaro said.

“This will allow us to take stock of our bilateral relations, identify areas of cooperation and promote our common interests,” she said.“In connection with this, we hope to convene the inaugural political consultations next year.”

As incoming ASEAN chair, the Philippines will“continue to uphold international law,” Lazaro said, as she stressed the country's“unwavering support to the two-state solution which the Philippines regards as the only viable path towards peace and stability in the Middle East.”

“The establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state and respect for its inalienable right to self-determination is imperative to the achievement of a long-lasting and genuine peace in the region,” she said.

Shahin thanked the Philippines for its support for the plight of the Palestinian people,“and their struggle for liberation.” “On the political level, we have an opportunity. We have an opportunity created by the ceasefire on the Gaza-Israel front. We hope that the ceasefire becomes sustainable and it takes us to a path that will lead to a much broader peace for Palestinians, inclusive of the West Bank and East Jerusalem as one integral part being the occupied state of Palestine today,” she said.

“So the priority now is to sustain that ceasefire and to embark on the relief and humanitarian assistance that we wish to be flowing in an unimpeded manner into the Gaza Strip,” she said,“because that humanitarian assistance is in much need for a devastated population of 2 million that has been truly devastated in the last two years.”

Sign up for one of our free newsletters

• The Daily Report Start your day right with Asia Times' top stories
• AT Weekly Report A weekly roundup of Asia Times' most-read stories

However, she said that this was only an initial step, and that somewhere down the line the establishment of a Palestinian state that includes territories east of Jerusalem, the West Bank as well as the Gaza Strip would be on the table. These areas have been occupied by Israel since 1967.

“The borders are clear within the minds of those that have recognized that state and it has been recognized at the UN as such,” Shahin said.“So for a viable Palestinian state, we need to ensure there is continuity and that this part of land occupied by Israel is looked upon as one integral entity, and not three separate entities,” she added.

Jason Gutierrez was head of Philippine news at BenarNews, an online news service affiliated with Radio Free Asia (RFA), a Washington-based news organization that covered many under-reported countries in the region. A veteran foreign correspondent, he has also worked with The New York Times and Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Sign up here to comment on Asia Times stories Or Sign in to an existing accoun

Thank you for registering!

An account was already registered with this email. Please check your inbox for an authentication link.

• Click to share on X (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedI
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Faceboo
• Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsAp
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddi
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Emai
• Click to print (Opens in new window) Prin

MENAFN18112025000159011032ID1110360049