08 July 2019 — Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. wrapped up today a full official program of activities, as he undertakes his first bilateral official visit to Vietnam on the invitation of the Vietnamese government. The Secretary held a bilateral meeting with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, which followed through on bilateral initiatives detailed in the Philippines-Vietnam Plan of Action 2019-2024.
As the two countries look to celebrating in 2020 the 5th anniversary of the elevation of relations to a Strategic Partnership, the two foreign ministers lauded early progress in implementing their Plan of Action, in concert with the relevant agencies in their respective governments.
The two Ministers expressed satisfaction over their sustained and regular reciprocal high-level visits as well as the robust economic engagement between the two countries at the level of both policymakers and their business sectors. The two sides also agreed to further strengthen cooperation in maritime affairs, law enforcement and labor.
Adding significance to the meeting was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Cooperation between the two Foreign Ministries, in keeping with a bilateral commitment reached during the 9th Meeting of the Philippines-Vietnam Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) held in March. The MOU aims to foster close collaboration between the Philippine and Vietnamese Foreign Ministries, towards the effective implementation of the Plan of Action and the outcomes of the biennial JCBC meetings.
The Secretary will also pay a courtesy call on Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc later in the day. END
(photos by Anthony Cornista, DFA-Office of the Secretary)
Source: From DFA Website
