The Philippines and Vietnam have agreed to elevate their relationship to an enhanced strategic partnership, President Ferdinand Marcos said today in Manila, while hosting Hanoi’s top leader To Lam.
Lam arrived in the Philippines yesterday for a two-day state visit aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation between the two nations, the first ever by a leader of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV).
During a joint press conference following his meeting with Lam, Marcos said that the Philippines and Vietnam shared a common interest in “maintaining peace, stability and a rules-based order in our region” at a time of growing global instability.
Marcos said that the elevation of the partnership “reaffirms Vietnam’s unique and enduring position as the sole strategic partner of the Philippines in Southeast Asia.” The future of the relationship, he added, will be “defined by wider pathways for cooperation, stronger political and defense cooperation, and closer linkages between the Filipino and Vietnamese people.”
In response, Lam described the Philippines as an “important regional partner of Vietnam,” stating that the two nations were united by their commitment to peace and stability. “We always wish to work closely with the Philippines to further elevate our strategic partnership to a greater height with ever increasing substance, comprehensiveness and effectiveness,” he added.
