Multifaceted cooperation and cultural exchanges between Vietnam and the Philippines have been flourishing since they established their diplomatic ties in 1976.

At a ceremony to celebrate the 115 th anniversary of the Philippines’ Independent Day (June 12, 1898-2013) in Ho Chi Minh City on June 14, Le Manh Ha, Vice Chairman of the Municipal People’s Committee said that flourishing cooperation would bring more good fruits in the time to come.

He spoke of encouraging developments in the city’s relations with Manila , which were evidenced by the regular exchanges of visit and talks to seek ways to increase linkages in education, trade and investment.

Addressing the event, Le Thi Phung, the Philippine Honorary Consul General in the city, recounted the established trade ties between the two countries, which, she said, are continuing through the Philippines ’ investment projects in the fields of automobile, aviation and education.

In 2012, the two countries’ two-way trade reached 2.8 billion USD, which was contributed by Vietnam ’s rice export value of 475 million USD.

By 2012, Filipino investors have pumped 264 million USD in 64 projects in Vietnam.-VNA