On the afternoon of January 30, at the National Assembly House, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue met with Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., who is on a state visit to Vietnam.
National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue affirmed that the President's visit to Vietnam is a strong impetus to strengthen the Vietnam - Philippines Strategic Partnership; implement the 2019 - 2024 Action Program, together towards 10 years of Strategic Partnership in 2025 and 50 years of diplomatic relations in 2026.
"The Vietnamese National Assembly congratulates the important achievements that the Philippines has made under the leadership of the President, which has promoted the remarkable development of the Philippine economy; and congratulates the Philippine Parliament on successfully organizing the 31st Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum APPF-31 in November 2023," said Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.
Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. said that Vietnam is the Philippines' only strategic partner in the region; he believes that high-level contacts will contribute positively to the implementation of the Strategic Partnership between the two countries as well as to peace, development and prosperity in the region.
President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. emphasized that the role of the two countries' parliaments is very important to further strengthen the Strategic Partnership. Recalling the official visit to the Philippines by National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue in 2022, the President assessed that the results of the visit increased political trust between the two countries as well as promoted cooperation in many areas such as labor, economy, and agriculture.
At the meeting, both sides expressed their delight at the increasingly effective and substantive development of bilateral relations over the past half century in all fields. In particular, political relations have become increasingly close and trustworthy with comprehensive and open cooperation in all fields, increased delegation exchanges at all levels and channels, including cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two countries.
Trade cooperation is a bright spot between Vietnam and the Philippines. Trade turnover in 2022 reached 7.8 billion USD - the highest level ever and reached 7.1 billion USD by November 2023. The two sides wish to strive for trade turnover to soon reach 10 billion USD, on the basis of balancing the two countries, limiting trade barriers and facilitating goods and services to access each other's markets; continue to promote rice trade cooperation, this is not only to increase turnover, but also an important pillar of cooperation demonstrating mutual trust in ensuring food security.
The Philippine President thanked Vietnam for always being ready to meet the Philippines' rice needs, which helps the Philippines ensure food security as well as the sustainability of the regional supply chain.
The two leaders expressed their hope that both sides would take advantage of the signed agreements; at the same time, they pledged to continue improving and simplifying investment-related procedures, and coordinate to create a legal framework for investment activities and economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.
Defense-security cooperation and maritime cooperation have been actively implemented. The two sides also cooperate in other important areas such as culture, tourism, education-training, and people-to-people exchange.
The two leaders also agreed to strengthen new cooperation on equitable energy transition, safe digital transformation, green energy, and enhance the effectiveness of maritime and ocean cooperation mechanisms. The two sides will share experiences in responding to climate change.
The two sides affirmed the importance of parliamentary cooperation; expressed their delight at the increasingly in-depth cooperation between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the Philippine Parliament, especially since the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives passed resolutions to further strengthen the Philippine-Vietnamese Parliamentary relationship. National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said that public opinion at home and abroad highly appreciated this move by the Philippine Parliament; said that on the basis of the cooperation agreement signed between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the Philippine House of Representatives and Senate, the two sides will promote it to become a model of parliamentary cooperation in the region as well as in the world.
In the coming time, the two sides need to continue to increase delegation exchanges at all levels, channels, Party, National Assembly, Government, people-to-people exchanges, including high-level delegations of the two countries' National Assemblies. The Vietnamese National Assembly is ready to welcome Philippine Parliamentary Delegations to visit, exchange information and share experiences. The two sides will work together to improve the effectiveness of existing cooperation mechanisms and effectively implement signed cooperation agreements.
The two leaders emphasized that the two countries cooperate and support each other within multilateral frameworks, strengthen solidarity, promote the central role of ASEAN and have a common voice on regional security and the East Sea issue: ensuring security, safety, freedom of navigation and aviation, not threatening or using force, all disputes must be resolved peacefully on the basis of compliance with international law, UNCLOS 1982.
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