Phl, US hold two-day bilateral strategic dialogue in Manila

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The Philippines and the United States kicked off today their fifth Philippines-US Bilateral Strategic Dialogue (BSD) in Manila.

US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel and Assistant Secretary of Defense David Shear co-headed the US delegation, while Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Evan Garcia and Undersecretary of Defense Pio Lorenzo Batino headed the Philippine delegation, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

The two-day BSD began with simultaneous meetings of four working groups, focusing on rule of law and law enforcement, defense and security, economics, development and prosperity, and regional and global diplomatic engagement.

The Department of National Defense (DFA), the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Justice lead for the Philippines in these working groups.

The meeting ends with a plenary session in which the reports of the working groups are discussed and future directions for the bilateral relationship are charted, the DFA said.

The BSD provides an avenue for regular consultation and exchange of views on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of common concern, as well as the two countries'strategic engagement in a broad range of areas.

The last BSD was held March 6-7, 2014 in Washington, DC.