Vietnam is Philippines’ only strategic partner in region, says President Marcos Jr.
VOV.VN - Vietnam is the Philippines’ only strategic partner in the region, and high-level meetings will positively contribute to realizing the Strategic Partnership between the two countries, as well as to peace, development and prosperity in the region, said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his meeting with National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue in Hanoi on January 30.
Marcos Jr., who began a State visit to Vietnam on January 29, recalled Hue’s Philippine visit in 2022 which he said helped increase political trust as well as cooperation in various fields such as labour, economics, and agriculture between the two countries.
Hue for his part affirmed that Marcos Jr.’s Vietnam visit would give fresh impetus to tightening the Vietnam-Philippines Strategic Partnership. The two countries are deploying the 2019 - 2024 action programme for the strategic partnership and working together towards 10 years of their strategic partnership in 2025 and 50 years of diplomatic relations in 2026.
The two leaders were of the same view that trade cooperation is a bright spot in bilateral relations, with two-way trade turnover last year hitting a record high of US$7.8 billion. They vowed to raise the trade figure to US$10 billion in 2025, by limiting trade barriers and creating favourable conditions for goods and services to access each other’s markets.
They particularly agreed to promote rice trade, considering this an important pillar of bilateral cooperation, helping to ensure national food security.
The two sides stressed the need to take advantage of the signed agreements, continue improving and simplifying investment-related procedures, and create a legal framework for investment, economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. They agreed to enhance cooperation in just energy transition, digital transformation, green energy; improve the effectiveness of sea and ocean cooperation mechanisms, and share experiences in climate change response.
Hue appreciated both houses of the Philippine parliament approving resolutions to strengthen cooperation between the two countries’ legislative bodies, saying based on a cooperation agreement signed recently between the National Assembly of Vietnam and both houses, the two sides would strive to become a model of parliamentary cooperation in the region and the world at large.
He proposed that the two sides continue to strengthen reciprocal visits and contacts at all levels, including those in the parliaments, to exchange information, share experiences, and improve the effectiveness of cooperation mechanisms.
The two sides agreed to promote the central role of ASEAN and have a common voice on regional security, including the East Sea issue, to ensure security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation, and to resolve disputes peacefully in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Philippine President Ferdinad Marcos Jr. began a State visit to Vietnam on January 29 at the invitation of Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong.
