Day: November 1, 2025

Kuala lumpur: The Philippines is actively pursuing a closer defense partnership with Timor-Leste, coinciding with the latter’s formal integration into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This development was highlighted during a bilateral meeting between Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Timor-Leste Defense Minister, Rear Admiral Donaciano Do Rosario Da Costa Gomes, on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM-Plus. According to Philippines News Agency, the Department of National Defense (DND) emphasized that the historical, geographical, and cultural similarities shared by the Philippines and Timor-Leste provide a robust foundation for enhanced bilateral relations. The

Santiago: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Chilean President Gabriel Boric have agreed to accelerate the signing of the Philippines-Chile Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), marking the Philippines’ inaugural free trade deal in Latin America. The decision was made during a meeting on the sidelines of the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting. According to Philippines News Agency, President Marcos emphasized the importance of deepening economic and political cooperation with Chile, citing the countries’ shared heritage and cultural connections as a strong basis for enhancing bilateral ties. The Philippines had previously hosted the third round of negotiations for

Beijing: The Philippine eVisa operations have officially resumed in China with a soft launch on Saturday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced. The Philippine Embassy in Beijing and other foreign service posts in China will commence full implementation on November 3. According to Philippines News Agency, under the new system, Chinese nationals residing in mainland China, Macau, and Hong Kong can apply for Philippine eVisas for tourism and business purposes. These visas will be valid for entry through Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Metro Manila and Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Cebu. The eVisa permits a single, non-extendable, and non-convertible

Gyeongju: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. joined Asia-Pacific leaders in concluding the 2025 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting on Saturday, as member economies adopted the Gyeongju Declaration, a landmark commitment to harness artificial intelligence (AI), digital innovation, and inclusive growth across the region. According to Philippines News Agency, the declaration, issued after two days of talks chaired by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, reaffirmed APEC leaders’ pledge to strengthen cooperation and deliver economic growth ‘that benefits all,’ recognizing that the rapid rise of AI and demographic shifts are reshaping labor markets and development strategies in the Asia-Pacific. The region’s leaders

Gyeongju: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. congratulated Chinese President Xi Jinping on China’s assumption of the 2026 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) chairmanship. This gesture comes amid ongoing maritime tensions between Manila and Beijing in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). According to Philippines News Agency, the two leaders met during the symbolic turnover ceremony of APEC’s chairmanship at the Hwabaek International Convention Center in Gyeongju. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung officially handed over the hosting duties to Xi Jinping at the close of the 2025 summit. President Marcos expressed his congratulations to President Xi in a social media post, emphasizing the