(UPDATE) RP, Swaziland ink cooperation agreements
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 10:36:00 05/26/2008
Filed Under: Diplomacy, Foreign affairs & international relations
MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippines and Swaziland on Monday signed maiden agreements expected to boost cooperation and pave the way for bilateral consultation mechanism between the two countries.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo welcomed King Mwasti III of Swaziland to Malacañang at 10 a.m.
After a brief meeting, the two leaders witnessed the signing of an agreement on economic, scientific, technical, and cultural cooperation between the Philippines and Swaziland, and a memorandum of understanding establishing the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism between the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Swazi Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
From Malacañang, the visiting monarch and his entourage will motor to Marikina City where he will receive the key to the city from Mayor Maria Lourdes Fernando. He will then tour the main campus of the University of the Philippines in Diliman.
Arroyo will tender a state banquet for the King in Malacañang at 7 p.m.
With the King are his 13th wife, Queen Inkhoskat Lankhambule, his 23rd child, Princess Buhlebetive, and his brother, Prince Lonkhokhela and sister, Princess Msindvose.
The Swazi king and his entourage arrived on Friday and went to Cebu and Bohol for a private visit.
His two-day state visit began Sunday.
They King and his entourage depart for Japan on Tuesday.
This is the first visit to the Philippines by a king of Swaziland, a landlocked African nation with a population 1.2 million.
Lira D. Fernandez, INQUIRER.net
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