Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Manh Cuong shared his views with the press on recent developments in Vietnam-Philippines relations and prospects for bilateral cooperation ahead of Party General Secretary and State President To Lam’s State visit to the Philippines from May 31 to June 1.

According to Nguyen Manh Cuong, Vietnam and the Philippines are two Southeast Asian countries with a longstanding friendship and many common strategic interests in maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region. Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1976, bilateral ties have steadily expanded across multiple areas, becoming increasingly substantive and in-depth.

The establishment of the Strategic Partnership in 2015 marked an important milestone, creating a foundation for broader cooperation in a new stage of development

The diplomat noted that political trust between the two countries has strengthened through regular high-level visits, exchanges and key bilateral cooperation mechanisms such as the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation, the Defence Policy Dialogue and the Joint Permanent Working Group on Maritime and Ocean Concerns. These mechanisms have helped enhance strategic exchanges, share views and effectively handle issues of shared concern.

Vietnam and the Philippines have also maintained close coordination at regional and international forums, particularly within ASEAN, the United Nations and other multilateral cooperation mechanisms. Both countries attach importance to ASEAN centrality, uphold multilateralism and international law, and work towards a united, resilient and sustainably developing Southeast Asia.

Maritime and ocean cooperation remains a bright spot in bilateral relations as both countries have direct interests in maintaining peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation in the East Sea.  Both sides have promoted dialogue, cooperation, confidence-building and coordination on the basis of respect for international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Meanwhile, defence and security cooperation between the two countries has become increasingly substantive. They have stepped up delegation exchanges, training cooperation, experience sharing and coordination in areas such as maritime security, combating transnational crime, search and rescue, disaster prevention and response to non-traditional security challenges. These efforts have contributed to strengthening strategic trust and supporting regional stability, Cuong emphasized.

On the economic front, Nguyen Manh Cuong said trade and investment ties between the two countries have recorded positive development. The Philippines is currently one of Vietnam’s key markets within ASEAN, particularly in agriculture and food. Vietnam is also a major rice supplier to the Philippines, contributing to the country’s food security while providing a stable outlet for Vietnamese agricultural products.

However, he noted that economic cooperation between the two countries still holds ample room for stronger growth compared with the positive political relationship and the potential of the two economies. The two countries have significant potential to expand cooperation in trade, logistics, high-tech agriculture, the digital economy, renewable energy, fisheries and the marine economy.

People-to-people exchanges and cooperation in education, culture and tourism have also broadened, helping strengthen mutual understanding between the two peoples and creating a positive social foundation for sustainable and long-term bilateral ties.

Regarding To Lam’s upcoming State visit to the Philippines, Cuong stated that the trip carries special significance as it will be the first visit to the Philippines by a General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. The visit comes as the two countries prepare to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and as the Philippines assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2026.

The visit shows Vietnam’s high regard for its friendship and cooperation with the Philippines as well as with ASEAN and Southeast Asia more broadly. It will also provide an opportunity for senior leaders of both nations to hold in-depth discussions on major directions for advancing the Vietnam-Philippines Strategic Partnership in a stronger, more substantive and effective manner in the new stage of development.

One key expectation for the visit is to further consolidate political trust between the two countries. Amid increasingly complex regional and global developments, enhancing strategic exchanges, maintaining high-level contacts and coordinating positions carry significant importance, providing a foundation for broader cooperation across a variety of areas, Cuong continued.

The visit is expected to provide fresh impetus for economic cooperation to become a more important pillar in bilateral relations. According to him, there remains ample room for stronger cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, logistics, high-tech agriculture, renewable energy, digital transformation and the marine economy.

In agriculture and food security, Vietnam hopes to remain a reliable partner of the Philippines while expanding cooperation in agricultural and seafood processing, high-tech applications and climate change adaptation. These areas are of practical significance for sustainable development and the livelihoods of people in both countries.

He also stressed that maritime and ocean cooperation remains an important aspect of bilateral ties as both countries share common interests in maintaining peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation in the East Sea on the basis of international law, particularly UNCLOS 1982.

In addition, both sides are expected to expand defence and security cooperation, especially in combating transnational crime, maritime security, search and rescue, disaster response and non-traditional security challenges, which are of direct significance to the security and development of each country.

Another key area is boosting coordination between the two countries within ASEAN and multilateral mechanisms. As the Philippines assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2026, the two countries are expected to coordinate closely to reinforce ASEAN unity, enhance ASEAN centrality and support an open, inclusive and rules-based regional architecture.

The visit is also expected to promote people-to-people exchanges, cooperation in education, culture and tourism, as well as local-level connectivity, thereby creating a stronger social foundation for long-term bilateral relations.

The Deputy FM affirmed that with a strong foundation of friendship, growing political trust and broad cooperation potential, the visit will create additional momentum for Vietnam-Philippines relations to develop more strongly and make positive contributions to peace, stability and development in the region.

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