By Roy Mabasa

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has expressed his interest to deepen his country’s cooperation with the Philippines and personally meet with President Rodrigo Duterte.

Maduro made his interest known when he accepted the credentials of Philippine Ambassador to Brazil Marichu Mauro as a non-resident envoy to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on January 9.

According to the Philippine envoy, Maduro considers the Philippines as an “important partner in Southeast Asia” and conveyed his wishes for the Philippines and Venezuela to work in a unified way to continue deepening cooperation in the political, cultural, energy, and economic spheres.

During the Philippine diplomat’s presentation of credentials, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen and expand the existing cooperation and ties between the two countries. The Philippines and Venezuela have enjoyed diplomatic relations for the last 52 years.

Mauro assured Maduro of the Philippines’ goodwill and best wishes to him and the Venezuelan people.

She also extended the invitation for President Maduro to visit the Philippines in the near future.