Philippine President Benigno Aquino III and his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo signed four agreements aiming to boost bilateral ties in numerous fields, in Manila on February 9.
The documents included a joint statement on protecting migrants and migrant workers. The three other deals covered cooperation in education and vocational training; defence and security education, research and training; and combating drug smuggling.
Both sides also agreed to coordinate more closely on a number of maritime issues
Speaking at a joint press briefing, the Philippine President expressed his hope that the bilateral ties will be consolidated further under the leadership of President Widodo.
Widodo, for his part, said that he and Aquino discussed several issues like patrolling the border, political cooperation, legal cooperation and also the protection of the citizens of the two countries.
The Indonesian leader visited Manila for the first time since he assumed the presidency in October. The Philippines is the last leg of his three-country tour, which also took him to Malaysia and Brunei.
Indonesia was the Philippines' 11th largest trade partner in 2013, with total trade of 3.62 billion USD.
In May last year, the two countries signed the landmark Agreement Concerning the Delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone Boundary that defines the maritime boundary between southern Mindanao in southern Philippines and north Sulawesi in Indonesia.-VNA
The documents included a joint statement on protecting migrants and migrant workers. The three other deals covered cooperation in education and vocational training; defence and security education, research and training; and combating drug smuggling.
Both sides also agreed to coordinate more closely on a number of maritime issues
Speaking at a joint press briefing, the Philippine President expressed his hope that the bilateral ties will be consolidated further under the leadership of President Widodo.
Widodo, for his part, said that he and Aquino discussed several issues like patrolling the border, political cooperation, legal cooperation and also the protection of the citizens of the two countries.
The Indonesian leader visited Manila for the first time since he assumed the presidency in October. The Philippines is the last leg of his three-country tour, which also took him to Malaysia and Brunei.
Indonesia was the Philippines' 11th largest trade partner in 2013, with total trade of 3.62 billion USD.
In May last year, the two countries signed the landmark Agreement Concerning the Delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone Boundary that defines the maritime boundary between southern Mindanao in southern Philippines and north Sulawesi in Indonesia.-VNA
