Manila, February 20  (AseanAll)  — Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro received Luxembourgish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel on 18 February 2026 in Manila. 

The Foreign Ministers’ meeting focused on deepening Philippine-Luxembourg bilateral relations, particularly in trade and investment, financial cooperation, creative industries, ICT, and space technology, including AI. Department of Migrant Workers Undersecretary Felicitas Bay also joined the meeting and highlighted opportunities to strengthen formal cooperation on labor mobility between the Philippines and Luxembourg.  

The Ministers acknowledged the growing people to people exchanges and opportunities for academic cooperation in the near future.  

The Ministers marked the visit with the signing of the Philippines-Luxembourg Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Bilateral Consultations, which will facilitate regular dialogues and encourage high-level exchanges between the two countries. The Philippines looks forward to the inaugural consultation meeting later this year. 

The Ministers also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern. Lazaro emphasized the Philippines’ position on the promotion of multilateralism and respect for rule of law in the regional and multilateral fora.

Lazaro underscored the Philippines’ priorities as ASEAN Chair and invited FM Bettel to attend the 50th anniversary commemoration of the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) on 24 July 2026. Bettel accepted the invitation to visit the Philippines again, and expressed keen interest to find engagements in ASEAN on practical areas such as humanitarian assistance and digitalization that will promote integration and inclusive growth in the region.

Bettel visited the Philippines in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Philippines-Luxembourg diplomatic relations this year.