Manila, May 19 -- The Philippines and the Netherlands are looking to explore cooperation on critical minerals, recognizing the need to diversify amid uncertainties that are putting strain on global supply chains.

The potential cooperation was raised during a meeting between Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen and Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro in The Hague on May 18.

Lazaro's trip is the first official visit by a top Filipino diplomat to the Netherlands in 33 years, since that of Secretary of Foreign Affairs Roberto Romulo in June 1993.

In a post on X, Berendsen described the talks as "fruitful," putting emphasis on both nations' commitment to strengthening bilateral trade, resilient supply chains and sustainable growth....