Hanoi: President Vo Van Thuong and his visiting Philippine counterpart Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. agreed to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in various fields, during their talks in Hanoi on January 30 morning.

At the talks, held following a state-level welcome ceremony for the Philippine leader, Thuong stressed the significance of his guest’s first-ever state visit to Vietnam in his capacity as President of the Philippines.

The visit is significant as it will contribute to creating new momentum for the bilateral strategic partnership, the host said, congratulating the Philippines on its socio-economic achievements, notably its economic growth which is among the highest in the region.

Marcos Jr. also lauded Vietnam’s outstanding results in socio-economic development and external affairs over the past time, and affirmed that Vietnam remains the only strategic partner of the Philippines in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). He also expressed his hope for more effective an
d substantive cooperation between the two countries.

The sides highlighted the development of the bilateral relationship after it was upgraded to a strategic partnership in 2015, saying the political and diplomatic ties have been consolidated through all-level contacts and delegation exchanges, and bilateral cooperation mechanisms.

Two-way trade has been rapidly growing over the past years, they highlighted, adding that the Philippines continues to be Vietnam’s biggest rice importer.

Host and guest also noted with pleasure progress in collaboration in culture, tourism, education-training, and people-to-people exchange after the COVID-19 pandemic.

They agreed to strengthen cooperation in politics and diplomacy through the exchange of visits and contacts at all levels, and work together to set out an action programme implementing the strategic partnership for 2025-2030.

The two countries will also enhance collaboration in economy, striving to soon raise the bilateral trade revenue to 10 billion USD by easi
ng trade barriers, facilitating exports, optimising trade agreements in the region, and encouraging their businesses to invest in such sectors as processing, high-tech agriculture, infrastructure, and oil and gas.

The bilateral cooperation is expected to be expanded to new, important fields like digital economy, green economy, digital transformation, circular economy, and renewable energy.

The two sides consented to work together in climate change response, pollution settlement, carbon emission reduction and plastic waste treatment, among others.

The guest thanked Vietnam for its readiness to ensure stable and long-term rice supply to the Philippines, and highly valued the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on rice trade as part of his trip, which he believed will contribute to ensuring food security and forging solidarity between the two countries.

He also hailed contributions by the Vietnamese community in the Philippines to local socio-economic development.

The leaders concurred to strengt
hen collaboration in national defence and security, and shared the view on the importance of maritime cooperation. They also agreed to cooperate in raising the capacity for fighting cross-border and high-tech crimes.

Thuong suggested the Philippines continue its humanitarian treatment towards Vietnamese fishermen, and soon extend the hotline agreement between the two agriculture ministries to quickly exchange information on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, helping Vietnam soon have the European Commission’s ‘yellow card’ warning on its seafood removed.

The leaders agreed to expand cooperation in other important spheres like education, culture, and tourism, touching upon the opening of more direct flights and the enhancement of people-to-people exchange.

The Philippine President affirmed his support for Vietnam to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum in 2027.

For the East Sea issue, they committed to maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety and freed
om of navigation and overflights, and called on parties to exercise self-restraint, not use force or threaten to use force, fully respect diplomatic and legal processes, and address disputes by peaceful measures in line with the basic principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The guest invited Thuong to pay a state visit to the Philippines at an appropriate time. The Vietnamese leader accepted the invitation with pleasure.

Following the talks, the two sides issued a joint statement and attended a ceremony to exchange cooperation documents in agriculture, rice trade, maritime affairs and culture./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., who is on a state visit to Vietnam, in Hanoi on January 30.

Welcoming the President’s first state visit, on the threshold of Vietnam’s traditional Tet (Lunar New Year), PM Chinh said that the visit will contribute to promoting the two countries’ friendship and multi-faceted cooperation.

President Marcos Jr. affirmed that the Philippines always attaches importance and wants to lift the Philippines-Vietnam strategic partnership to a new height.

The two sides agreed to increase the exchange of delegations at all levels, affirming that regular meetings between leaders of the two countries contribute to consolidating and strengthening political trust and comprehensively promoting bilateral collaboration.

They also agreed to soon fully carry out bilateral cooperation mechanisms; and comprehensively review the action programme to implement the strategic partnership for the 2019-2024 period, and develop another for the
new period, with priority given to new and potential fields such as digital transformation, green economy, circular economy, climate change response, and energy transition.

The leaders discussed measures to strengthen economic, trade and investment cooperation with a goal of bringing two-way trade to 10 billion USD by 2025; create a favourable business and investment environment, especially in areas where both sides have needs and strengths such as processing technology, infrastructure, automobile supporting industries, renewable energy, and hi-tech agriculture.

Regarding rice trade, Chinh affirmed that this is one of the important areas of cooperation, not only for economic benefits but also for ensuring food security. He proposed the two sides effectively implement the memorandum of understanding on rice trade cooperation signed on this occasion.

As for defence and security cooperation, the two leaders affirmed that they will continue to promote the role of the defence, security and maritime cooperation
mechanism; soon resume the joint committee on sea and ocean cooperation at the deputy foreign ministerial level; improve the effectiveness of joint patrols, and search and rescue at sea; and as strengthen cooperation in the fight against drug crime, cybercrime, high-tech crime, and economic crime.

Marcos Jr. agreed with Chinh’s proposal to promote cooperation in potential fields such as education and training, science and technology, tourism, culture, people-to-people exchange, and collaboration between localities; and encouraged the opening of more direct flights connecting famous destinations between the two countries.

Discussing international and regional issues, the two leaders appreciated the close coordination at regional and international forums such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the United Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM); and emphasised the maintenance of solidarity and the central role of ASEAN, as well as the consen
sus on building a strong, united and resilient ASEAN Community.

Regarding the East Sea issue, the two sides agreed to continue to coordinate closely with each other and with ASEAN countries and partners to maintain and implement ASEAN’s common viewpoint on the East Sea; ensure the full and serious implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), speed up negotiations on building an effective and efficient Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); and build the East Sea into a sea of peace, cooperation and development, thus contributing to the stable, prosperous and sustainable development of the region and the world./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Vuong Dinh Hue met with President of the Philippines Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. in Hanoi on January 30, describing the latter’s first state visit to Vietnam as a strong impetus to tighten the strategic partnership between the two countries.

The host leader applauded the outcomes of the earlier talks between Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong and his Philippine counterpart, during which the two sides handed over documents on agricultural, rice trading, maritime, and cultural cooperation.

Chairman Hue held that trade is a bright spot of the bilateral ties, adding it has helped generate benefits for enterprises and people of both countries amid obstacles to global investment and trade flows.

He suggested the two countries expand cooperation in just energy transition, safe digital transformation, and green energy, among others in the spirit of the strategic partnership. Thanking the Philippine President, Government, and people for their recent assistance to Vie
tnamese workers and citizens, he recommended the two governments to sign a labour cooperation agreement early.

The Chairman highlighted the increasingly practical connections between the Vietnamese NA and the Philippine Congress, especially since the House of Representatives and the Senate of the archipelago nation adopted resolutions on enhancing the bilateral relations before and during the Vietnamese NA delegation’s official visit in 2022.

He expressed his hope that the two parliaments will continue increasing mutual visits by their leaders and specialised agencies, and share experience in parliamentary activities and the building of legal frameworks for bilateral investment, economic, and trade ties.

The two sides should actively implement the Vietnamese NA’s agreement with the Philippine House of Representatives and Senate so as to turn their parliamentary cooperation into a model of its kind in the world, Chairman Hue continued.

At the meeting, both leaders voiced their delight at the signing of the
rice trading agreement, considering this as not only a contributor to the two countries’ trade turnover but also a demonstration of mutual trust and a help to food security.

President Marcos Jr. shared his host’s view about the need to enhance political trust; expand cooperation in the fields of labour, agriculture, education, and training; and exchange experience in natural disaster prevention and control, vocational training, the building of labour, employment and social protection policies, and response to social impacts of epidemics and climate change.

He also agreed on the need for the two sides to step up exchanges of Party, parliamentary, and government delegations as well as people-to-people exchanges, improve the effectiveness of existing cooperation mechanisms, encourage the two countries’ parliamentary friendship groups to boost practical activities, foster partnerships between localities, facilitate people-to-people exchanges, and connect enterprises.

That will help intensify cooperation within
the framework of the Philippines – Vietnam strategic partnership for the sake of both nations’ people, the President opined.

Talking about regional and international issues of shared interest, the two leaders agreed that Vietnam and the Philippines will support each other at multilateral frameworks. The two nations will continue their close coordination with each other, other ASEAN countries, and partners to maintain and carry out ASEAN’s common stance on the East Sea, ensure the full and serious implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and promote the negotiations on and building of an efficient and effective Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The Philippine leader said together with striving for 10 billion USD in bilateral trade, the two countries need to capitalise on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to expand economic, trade, and
investment ties.

On this occasion, Chairman Hue called on the Philippines to create more favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community to live and work there and serve as bridges of cooperation between the countries.

Via President Marcos Jr., he invited the Speaker of the House of Representatives and President of the Senate of the Philippines to pay official visits to Vietnam in the near future./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Vietnam and the Philippines have issued a joint press statement on the occasion of the State visit to Vietnam by Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr.

The following is the full text of the joint press statement:

At the invitation of H.E. Mr. Vo Van Thuong, President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, H.E. Mr. Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., President of the Republic of the Philippines, paid a State-visit to Viet Nam from 29 – 30 January, 2024.

During the visit, President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. was accorded an official welcoming ceremony, and held bilateral talks with President Vo Van Thuong. The President of the Philippines also paid courtesy calls on H.E. Mr. Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister of Viet Nam, and H.E. Mr. Vuong Dinh Hue, President of the National Assembly of Viet Nam.

At their talks, both Leaders highly valued the strong and substantive development of the Strategic Partnership between the two countries. Given the many similarities in views and interests of both
countries, they agreed to further strengthen and develop the partnership in a deeper and more comprehensive manner ahead of key milestones of the 10th anniversary of Viet Nam – Philippines Strategic Partnership in 2025 and the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026.

The two Presidents agreed to enhance political trust, friendship and comprehensive cooperation through holding regular high-level engagements and visits at all levels through Party, State, Government and parliamentary channels as well as people-to-people exchanges. They committed to uphold established bilateral cooperation mechanisms and implement effectively the instruments signed between the two countries to enhance mutual understanding and trust.

The Leaders agreed to deepen economic relations and encourage joint initiatives between the two countries. They emphasized the importance of increasing the volume of two-way trade and investment, including through leveraging on the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) and the Regional Com
prehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in promoting more integrated supply chains among companies from the two economies. Both sides agreed to work closely on creating favourable conditions for smooth trade flows in order to achieve the trade target of 10 billion USD at the earliest, as well as enhancing the business environment to make it more conducive to invest in sectors of interest to both countries. They also discussed promising cooperation in areas such as agriculture, particularly in rice trading, market access for agricultural products, food security, energy security, infrastructure development, education, transportation management, innovation, tourism, connectivity, science and technology, and environmental protection, among others.

Both sides took note of strong security and defence cooperation, which contributes to enhancing the strategic cooperation between Viet Nam and the Philippines. In this regard, both Presidents agreed to: (i) continue high-level visits, information sharing, education and
training exchanges, and defense dialogue mechanisms; (ii) further enhance collaboration on defense industry, as well as cooperation on military medicine, search and rescue, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations, maritime and aviation security, counter-terrorism, cybersecurity, peacekeeping operations, among others; (iii) intensify law enforcement cooperation against transnational crimes, including those related to migrant smuggling, human trafficking, gambling, underground and illegal credit facilities, illegal residence and labour as well as other traditional and non-traditional security concerns, and called on concerned officials to build on each other’s expertise and experience.

The two Leaders agreed to strengthen existing maritime cooperation mechanisms, notably the Joint Commission on Maritime and Ocean Affairs at the Deputy-Minister level, the hotline communication mechanism between coast guard authorities of both countries, among others, and to adopt other measures to ensure t
he safety and security of fishermen from both countries as well as to solve amicably the unexpected incidents at sea.

The Leaders emphasized the importance of enhancing cooperation in education, culture, tourism, healthcare, people-to-people exchanges, cooperation between localities, and promoting the role of each other’s friendship organizations in order to strengthen their people’s bond, increase mutual understanding, boost connectivity, enrich cultural diversity and promote the overall relations.

The Leaders exchanged views on a wide range of sub-regional, regional and international issues of mutual concern, including the situation in Myanmar and the South China Sea. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to upholding peace, stability, and prosperity in the region, including advancing ASEAN community building efforts through the full and effective implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the ASEAN Community’s Vision 2045, supporting the sub-region cooperation, including Mekong cooperation me
chanisms and BIMP-EAGA.

Towards this end, the two Presidents welcomed the effective cooperation between Viet Nam and the Philippines within the ASEAN and agreed to enhance cooperation, coordination, and consultation with one another to respond effectively to regional and international issues of mutual concern in a timely manner, thus, further contributing to the consolidation of ASEAN’s solidarity, centrality and pivotal role in ASEAN-led mechanisms and processes.

Both Presidents appreciated the close coordination, consultation and mutual support, including on each other’s candidacy bids, within international organizations and multilateral frameworks, particularly in the United Nations (UN), Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

Both Presidents emphasized the importance of maintaining peace, stability, maritime security, safety, and freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea. They called for exercise of self-restraint in the conduct of activities th
at would complicate or escalate disputes and affect regional peace and stability, and avoidance of unilateral acts that can change the status quo and increase tensions, as well as the peaceful settlement of disputes without resorting to the threat or use of force in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea (UNCLOS). They reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the full and effective implementation of the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety and working towards the early conclusion of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) that is in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS. In this regard, they urged the promotion of an environment that is conducive to the COC negotiations.

During the visit, President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. and President Vo Van Thuong also witnessed the exchange of bilateral documents in various fields inc
luding the MOU on Rice Trade Cooperation, Understanding on Incident Prevention and Management in the South China Sea, MOU on Cooperation in Agriculture and related fields, Programme on Cultural Cooperation for the period 2024 – 2029, and the MOU on Maritime Cooperation.

President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. highly appreciated the warm welcome and kind hospitality extended to the Philippine delegation by the Leaders and the people of Viet Nam during his visit. The President of the Philippines further invited the Leaders of Viet Nam to visit the Philippines at a mutually convenient time./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: President Vo Van Thuong and his Philippine counterpart Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. on January 30 visited the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, a world cultural heritage site in Hanoi, as part of the latter’s state visit to Vietnam.

There, the two leaders attended the ‘Happy Tet 2024’ programme that is taking place ahead of the Lunar New Year (Tet) Festival at the Central Sector of the citadel.

President Thuong introduced the traditional Tet of Vietnam, including its cultural values, folk games, and dishes, to his guest. They also talked to local people and artisans of craft villages from across Vietnam who are reenacting the traditional Tet spaces of Hanoi, the central and southern regions, and ethnic minority groups.

Later, the Presidents took a tour of relics at the imperial citadel, including Doan Mon – one of the main entrances to the citadel – with archaeological structures, the exhibition hall of antiquities and some items recognised as national treasures, and Kinh Thien Palace that used to be t
he venue of the most important ceremonies, receptions for foreign envoys, and discussions of national issues of feudal dynasties in the past.

The Thang Long Imperial Citadel, built by feudal dynasties in different periods of Vietnam’s history, is one of the most important relic sites in the country. In 2010, the World Heritage Committee recognised the citadel’s Central Sector as a world cultural heritage site./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency