By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

Changwon City, Gyeongnam Province announced on April 22 that Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega visited the city to discuss the direction of the 2024 MAMF and exchange programs.

The visit came as the Philippines was selected as the host country of the 19th MAMF this year.

Changwon City plans to hold a high-quality festival by appointing the Philippine ambassador to Korea as the co-chair of MAMF.
  
Changwon Mayor Hong Nam-pyo and Ambassador Dizon-De Vega will discuss economic cooperation between companies in the Philippines and Changwon City, as well as various ways to expand exchanges, such as promoting sisterhood relationship between local governments to revitalize cultural and economic exchanges.

"I would like to thank the city of Changwon for its hospitality and I hope that the MAMF will lead to active exchanges between the Philippines and Korea in various fields," said Ambassador Dizon-De Vega.

"We welcome the Philippine Ambassador to Korea," said Mayor Hong. "This year, the Philippines and Korea celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations, and the Philippines is the second host country of MAMF after 2018, so we look forward to continued cooperation to lay the foundation for bilateral growth, spread the value of cultural diversity through the MAMF festival, and leap forward together as a global cultural leader."

This year's MAMF will be held in October at Yongji Cultural Park and will be filled with various contents such as the Cultural Diversity Parade and Migrants Arirang.