The Republic of the Philippines is determined to broaden its collaboration with Azerbaijan, the newly appointed Filipino Ambassador to Azerbaijan and Türkiye, Henry Bensurto Jr., said in an interview with Report’s Ankara bureau.
“Baku is an enchanting, contemporary city that combines elements of both the East and the West. The locals are tolerant, appreciate diverse cultures, and will befriend you very quickly. I highly value the hospitality and friendship of Azerbaijanis, a quality that resonates with us as well. We share many commonalities,” Ambassador Bensurto emphasized. He added, “The similarity and closeness of our peoples also give me confidence that my diplomatic activities as an ambassador will be successful. I am considering ways to expand our relations in the near future.”
On July 1, the Filipino diplomat presented his credentials to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and held several official meetings in Baku. During these meetings, discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between the two nations.
Ambassador Bensurto expressed hope for the establishment of direct flights between Azerbaijan and the Philippines in the near future. “The visa issue was also raised during the meeting with Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov. If we manage to simplify the visa regime between our countries, not only diplomats but also ordinary citizens would have the opportunity to visit our countries more often, which could provide an additional impetus for bringing our peoples closer together,” the Ambassador stated, adding, “Of course, these are ideas for now, and we will try to bring them to life.”
