The Philippines and Vietnam on Thursday agreed to establish a long-term rice trade mechanism aimed at ensuring stable supply and strengthening food security cooperation between the two countries.
Vietnam is the top supplier of rice imports to the Philippines and is expected to supply around 3.2=6 million metric tons this year.
The Presidential Communications Office said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vietnamese Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng, on the sidelines of the 48th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Cebu, also talked about expanding cooperation between Manila and Hanoi particularly in the areas of tourism, and transnational crimes including scam hubs and human trafficking.
The PCO said the two leaders also discussed the “significance of the 50th anniversary of Philippines–Viet Nam bilateral relations, expressing confidence that the milestone would pave the way for stronger cooperation, particularly in trade and economic engagement.”
It added that Marcos also congratulated the Prime Minister on his assumption to office in April and welcomed him to his first ASEAN Summit.
BIMP-EAGA
At the sidelines of ASEAN, the President pushed for building a “more connected, resilient, and prosperous Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) for present and future generations.”
The President, in addressing the Special BIMP-EAGA Summit, welcomes each country’s commitment to continue fostering closer cooperation, partnership, and inclusive growth in the sub-region.
Marcos was joined by Brunei Darussalam Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in the meeting.
“As we gather today, we look forward with purpose guided by the BIMP-EAGA Vision 2035 and its strong alignment with the broader aspirations of ASEAN. This vision is not merely a roadmap for economic integration. It is a promise to our people that development will be meaningful, sustainable, and felt in their daily lives,” he said.
The President said the special summit highlighted key milestone programs and projects implemented in their respective countries that are already making a big difference, creating livelihoods, strengthening connectivity, and expanding opportunities.
“These successes remind us that regional cooperation delivers its greatest value when it uplifts local communities. Let this summit renew our resolve to translate vision into action and plans into lasting impact,” Marcos said.
“Together, let us continue building a more connected, resilient, and prosperous BIMP-EAGA for present and future generations… I wish you all a productive and inspiring summit,” he added.
The BIMP-EAGA was established in 1994 as a subregional cooperation initiative aimed at accelerating economic development in less-developed and geographically remote areas of the four member countries through enhanced connectivity, trade, investment, tourism and infrastructure cooperation.
As this developed, the President said he expects the issue of the South China Sea to be discussed and included in the various document outcomes in this week’s ASEAN Summit.
“In general terms,” Marcos said, in a chance interview at the sidelines of the Summit. He did not elaborate.
The overlapping claims of several countries to parts of the South China Sea and China’s claim to almost the entire territory has led to tension in the disputed maritime area.
The ASEAN had been pushing for a legally binding and accepted Code of Conduct between the regional bloc’s member countries and China over the years.