The Philippines will set up embassies in Dublin of Ireland, Lisbon of Portugal, Helsinki of Finland, and Warsaw of Poland this year, the Manila Bulletin reported Monday.
It will also open two consulates general in Chinese western city of Chongqing and Macao in 2008 to strengthen economic ties with China.
Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo described the new posts as leeway for the government to deepen strategic partnership with the European and Asian countries and to better protect the welfare of the overseas Filipino workers in these places.
Currently, the Philippines have consulates in three Chinese mainland cities including Shanghai, Xiamen, and Guangzhou, all economic boom towns along China's affluent southeastern coast.
Analysts said the new consulate in Chongqing will, however, boost trade, tourism and bilateral investment between the archipelago and China's vast western region.
Sources with the Philippine Foreign Affairs Department said the consulate in Chongqing will "hopefully be ready at the end of the first quarter of this year."
Source:Xinhua
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