The Philippine government has formally established diplomatic relations with Bhutan on Monday.

The Joint Communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations was signed between Philippine Ambassador to India Josel Ignacio and Bhutan Ambassador to India Major General Vetsop Namgyel in a ceremony in New Delhi.

Ignacio emphasized that both countries had cultivated cordial ties for years, with the Philippines actively extending training and other forms of technical assistance to Bhutan.

“[W]e have given flesh to the mutual aspiration of our governments and peoples to promote mutual understanding and strengthen friendship and cooperation, guided by the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law,” he said.

“We foresee engagements between both our countries gaining new momentum — in economic interaction; people-to-people, tourism and cultural exchanges; and cooperation in multilateral fora to advance shared advocacies,” he added.

Namgyel, for his part, noted the warm relations and fruitful cooperation between the two states even prior to the establishment of formal diplomatic ties.

He acknowledged Manila’s contribution to the study and training completion of many Bhutanese students and officials over the years, through the Colombo Plan, the Asian Development Bank, and the JICA Third Country Program.

He also conveyed Bhutan’s appreciation for the Philippines’ role in the Kingdom’s De-Suung (Guardian of Peace) Skilling Program, under which 17 Filipino expert trainers to date have provided skills development training for Bhutanese youth.

Namgyel said Bhutan is committed “to work closely with the Philippine Embassy to take our friendship and cooperation to new heights in the years ahead.”

The signing of the Communiqué makes the Philippines the 58th country with which Bhutan has diplomatic relations — and only the 6th among Association of Southeast Asian Nations states. (PNA)