PH, Mongolia agree on English language training, eye agri deal
Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Mongolian counterpart Battsetseg Batmunkh sign an agreement between the two countries on Monday, May 19, 2025. Michaela Del Callar
The Philippines and Mongolia on Monday signed an agreement that will allow Mongolian government officials and youth leaders to study English in the Philippines.
Both sides during a bilateral meeting in Manila also welcomed the progress made in the negotiations for an accord on agricultural cooperation amid concerns on global food security.
With Mongolia's designation of English as its official second language, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and counterpart Battsetseg Batmunkh had an exchange of notes to conduct a pilot program for Mongolians to study English in the Philippines, which will be organized by the Technical Cooperation Council of the Philippines.
"Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to tangible cooperation through joint initiatives focused on English language training for civil servants and youth leaders, particularly in rural areas, with the aim of promoting inclusive capacity building, strengthening mutual understanding, and contributing meaningfully to Mongolia's long-term regional development objectives," according to a joint communique issued after the bilateral meeting.
The two ministers also underscored food security as top priorities for the Philippines and Mongolia and underlined their commitment to long-term food security at both regional and global levels under a proposed Memorandum of Understanding on Agricultural Cooperation being hammered out by the two countries.
After meeting Manalo, Battsetseg also paid courtesy calls on President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. and Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero.
Reaffirming their shared commitment to peaceful coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation, Manalo and Battsetseg highlighted common values, such as freedom, democracy, and human rights.
They likewise stressed the importance of "an open, inclusive, and rules-based international order grounded in international law, equity, and justice."
Manalo said Mongolia has expressed support for the Philippines' efforts towards a peaceful resolution of disputes as both nations stressed that rule of law must prevail in the face of evolving security challenges in the Indo-Pacific.
In their joint press conference, Manalo said he and Battsetseg 'emphasized the importance of adherence to the United Nations Charter' and reaffirmed commitment to the Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of Disputes.'
'Beyond our economic ties, the Philippines and Mongolia are Asian democracies bound by shared values of freedom, human rights, and the rule of law. In this context, we reaffirmed our shared interest in the evolving Indo-Pacific landscape and in defending the rules-based international order,' Manalo said.
The 1982 accord calls on all nations to resolve disputes without threat, harassment or use of force.
Noting that the Philippines and Mongolia are two of the world's fastest-growing economies, the two diplomats agreed to bolster trade and investment by expanding economic cooperation in several areas.
Sharing a vision of a nuclear weapons-free world, Manalo and Battsetseg said nuclear weapons-free zones "are vital confidence-building measures that advance regional security and global disarmament goals." They vowed to continue cooperation on promoting nuclear weapons-free zones in the context of the review process of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
The two officials stressed the need to strengthen cooperation on tourism, educational and labor exchange and outsourcing, culture and sports, science, technology and innovation (STI), disaster risk reduction, defense, counterterrorism, air services, and countering transnational crime.
Battsetseg, meanwhile, pledged to promote the welfare of around 500 Filipino workers in Mongolia as she and Manalo explored talks for a bilateral labor agreement. — BM, GMA Integrated News
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