President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday said the Philippines and Vietnam are entering a stronger phase of relations as the two countries elevate their ties to an Enhanced Strategic Partnership.
Marcos made the statement during his bilateral meeting with Vietnamese President and Communist Party General Secretary Tô Lâm at Malacañang, where he said the upgraded partnership would expand cooperation, strengthen political and defense engagements, and deepen people-to-people ties.
“Today, we elevate our ties to an Enhanced Strategic Partnership, which will be defined by wider pathways for cooperation, stronger political and defense cooperation, and closer linkages between the Filipino and Vietnamese peoples,” Marcos said.
The President described Lâm’s visit as historic, noting that it was the first by a General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam who concurrently serves as president of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
The visit comes as the Philippines and Vietnam mark 50 years of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of their Strategic Partnership.
Marcos said Vietnam remains the Philippines’ sole strategic partner in Southeast Asia, a relationship he said has become more critical as the region faces geopolitical tensions, supply chain vulnerabilities, trade pressures, and the risks and opportunities brought by emerging technologies.
He said Manila and Hanoi share a common interest in preserving peace, stability, and a rules-based order anchored on international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Marcos also cited the two countries’ robust economic ties, with bilateral trade exceeding US$7 billion, along with cooperation in agriculture, defense, regional affairs, and multilateral platforms.
He said cultural, educational, and tourism exchanges would remain key pillars of the relationship as both countries seek to bring their peoples closer.
“We are not only marking a half-century of diplomatic ties, but we also signal the starting point for another march towards new horizons that will carry our nations and our peoples forward to progress,” Marcos said.
