The Philippines and Vietnam on Tuesday signed a joint statement on the establishment of strategic partnership particularly on economic, agricultural, maritime and defense and security issues.
Philippines’ Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Vietnam Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh signed the agreement during the bilateral meeting between President Benigno Aquino III and Vietnam President Truong Tan Sang at the Malacanang Palace.
”I am truly pleased to say that today our Foreign Ministers signed the Joint Statement on the Establishment of a Strategic Partnership between our countries, a vital step towards strengthening the friendship our peoples have enjoyed all these centuries,” President Aquino said in a joint press statement after the two leaders’ bilateral talks.
”President Aquino and I just had fruitful talks with many tangible outcomes. This is indeed a historic event, marking a new era for cooperation between our two countries, while making contributions to the maintenance of peace, stability and prosperity in the region,” the Vietnam leader, for his part, said.
The two leaders also affirmed joint efforts in establishing strategic partnership in political; judicial and law enforcement cooperation; and, socio-cultural, technical & multilateral cooperation, according to Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said.
President Aquino said the agreement on the establishment of a strategic partnership is a vital step towards strengthening the friendship that the peoples of the two countries have enjoyed “all these centuries.”
”This comes at an auspicious period as we prepare for the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Vietnam, come 2016,” President Aquino said.
The two leaders also intensified maritime cooperation in maritime safety and law enforcement amid reports of China’s massive structures building in the West Philippine Sea which is also being partly claimed by the Philippines and Vietnam.
”Mr. President and I shared our concerns over the recent developments in the East Sea or the South China Sea, affecting trust, peace, security and stability in the region,” President Truong said.
”We also reaffirmed the importance of ensuring the stability, maritime security, safety and freedom of navigation and of flight in the South China Sea, as well as settling maritime disputes on the basis of international law including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,” he added.
President Aquino and President Truong also discussed cooperation in combating human and illegal drug trafficking, according to Coloma.
The two leaders also strongly denounced the terrorist attacks that killed 129 people in Paris last November 12.
”We also send the deepest condolences and our sympathy to the huge losses and casualties of the victims and their families as well as to the government and people of France. And we strongly believe that with the strong efforts, which are (being) undertaken by the French government and people, the terrorists will soon be brought to justice,” President Truong said.
Meanwhile, the Philippines and Vietnam also signed the Exchange of the Signed Protocol to amend the 2010 memorandum of agreement on the supply of Vietnamese rice to the Philippines.
President Truong arrived in Manila Tuesday morning with wife Mai Thi Hanh to attend the 2015 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit slated Nov. 18-19 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).
The 21 APEC member-economies include United States, Japan, China, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Korea, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Singapore, Hong Kong-China, Chinese Taipei, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines. (PCOO-APEC Communications Team)
