Vietnam and the Philippines promote maritime and ocean cooperation, coordinate to promptly handle issues arising at sea.

On August 2, at the Government Guest House, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo co-chaired the 10th Meeting of the Vietnam-Philippines Joint Committee on Bilateral Cooperation (UBHH-10) during the official visit of the Philippine Foreign Minister.

Đón Bộ trưởng Ngoại giao Philippines Enrique Manalo, Bộ trưởng Ngoại giao Bùi Thanh Sơn bày tỏ vui mừng trước sự phát triển mạnh mẽ của quan hệ Đối tác chiến lược Việt Nam-Philippines trên tất cả các lĩnh vực; đồng thời khẳng định Việt Nam là đối tác chiế

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

Minister Manalo expressed his joy at his first visit to Vietnam and emphasized that Vietnam was also the first country he officially visited as Foreign Minister; affirming that the Philippines always attaches importance to consolidating and developing the friendly, cooperative and multifaceted relationship with Vietnam, the Philippines' only strategic partner in ASEAN.

Minister Bui Thanh Son welcomed Minister Manila's official visit to Vietnam; emphasizing that the visit is of great significance, contributing to further promoting the strategic partnership between the two countries.

At the 10th session of the UBHH with the participation of representatives of relevant ministries and branches of the two countries, the two sides conducted a comprehensive review and assessment of bilateral relations since the 9th Session of the UBHH in Manila (March 2019) and the implementation of the Vietnam-Philippines Action Program for the period 2019-2024.

The two sides were pleased with the good development of the Vietnam-Philippines Strategic Partnership over the past four years, including during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The two sides agreed on many specific measures to continue promoting cooperation in various fields; including increasing the exchange of delegations and high-level contacts, especially the visit to Vietnam by Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. at an appropriate time; effectively implementing bilateral cooperation mechanisms, including the Joint Committee on Sea and Ocean Affairs, the Joint Subcommittee on Trade, the Joint Working Group on Agriculture , the Joint Working Group on Fisheries, etc.;

The two sides will also promote the development of an Action Program to implement the Strategic Partnership for the 2025-2030 period; strengthen defense and security cooperation; strive to soon bring two-way trade turnover to 10 billion USD, with a focus on rice trade.

The two sides also agreed to promote maritime and ocean cooperation; increase information sharing and coordinate timely handling of issues arising at sea; and improve the effectiveness of cooperation in preventing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities.

Hai bên cũng trao đổi về tình hình quốc tế và khu vực cùng quan tâm; cam kết tiếp tục phối hợp chặt chẽ và tích cực ủng hộ lẫn nhau tại các diễn đàn khu vực và quốc tế như Liên hợp quốc, ASEAN…; nhất trí rằng việc gia tăng tin cậy chính trị và quan hệ Đối

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo co-chaired the 10th Meeting of the Vietnam-Philippines Joint Committee on Bilateral Cooperation. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

In addition, the two sides also agreed to promote cooperation in other important areas such as agriculture, culture, tourism,education , transportation, science and technology, environment, people-to-people exchange, etc.

The two Ministers also expressed satisfaction and agreed to continue to coordinate and support each other at multilateral forums, especially at ASEAN and the United Nations; coordinate with other ASEAN countries to maintain solidarity and ASEAN's central role; promote ASEAN's sub-regional cooperation; and contribute to building a strong and prosperous community.

The two Ministers also agreed to strengthen cooperation between the two countries' Foreign Ministries, including increasing exchanges on international and regional issues of mutual concern, and promoting cooperation between the two Diplomatic Academies.

At the end of the 10th Session of the Joint Committee on Bilateral Cooperation, the Foreign Ministers of the two countries signed the Minutes of the Session and agreed to hold the 11th Session of the Joint Committee on Bilateral Cooperation in the Philippines at an appropriate time in 2025.

Minister Manalo respectfully invited Minister Bui Thanh Son to pay an official visit to the Philippines at a convenient time.