Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo will co-chair the 5th meeting of the Philippines-India Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation on June 29 in New Delhi, India.

The visit is upon the invitation of India’s Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, according to the DFA in a statement Monday.

“The Philippines-India JCBC is a ministerial-level platform usually held every two years to review bilateral relations and chart areas of cooperation for the succeeding years,” the statement read.

Manalo would lead a delegation of officials from the DFA, the Department of Finance, the Philippine Space Agency, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency and the Philippine Overseas Construction Board of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Due to the pandemic, the 4th meeting was hosted by the Philippines virtually on Nov. 6, 2020.

During his visit, Manalo will headline the 42nd Sapru Lecture organized by the Indian Council of World Affairs and the Philippine Foreign Service Institute on June 28. He will also engage with the Observer Research Foundation as well as the Philippines’ Honorary Consular Officials in India and Nepal and Filipino community leaders.

The Philippines and India are set to celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations in 2024. (PNA)