Hanoi (VNA) - On the occasion of the New Year 2025, Philippine Ambassador to Vietnam Meynardo Los Banos Montealegre spoke to Vietnam News Agency about the major achievements in Vietnam-Philippines relations in 2024 and prospects for 2025 as the two countries celebrate the 10th anniversary of their Strategic Partnership.
According to the ambassador, over the past year, the two countries have undertaken various activities to strengthen bilateral ties, including the state visit to Vietnam by Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the visit to Manila by Vietnamese Minister of National Defence Phan Van Giang, and the first joint exercises on search, rescue and firefighting in the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea). In 2025, the Philippines aims to promote cooperation in maritime affairs, agriculture, and culture with Vietnam, while also welcoming closer collaboration in other areas.
The following is the full text of the interview:
Reporter: There are several engagements between the Philippines and Vietnam this year, including the state visit of Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., which have resulted in the signing of important bilateral agreements. Could you elaborate on these agreements and share the embassy’s plans for supporting their implementation?
Ambassador Meynardo Los Banos Montealegre: Keen to strengthen cooperation with a very close neighbor and a strong Strategic Partner, the Philippines continues to work with Vietnam to implement the agreements signed during President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s state visit to Vietnam on January 29-30, 2024. These agreements span various fields of utmost importance to the Philippines, including maritime, agricultural, and cultural cooperation. Barely a year after the signing of these agreements, the Philippines and Vietnam are already seeing the results of our renewed commitment to the strengthening of bilateral relations.
In maritime and defence cooperation, successive meetings have been held between the Philippines and Vietnam Coast Guards as well as officials from both the defence forces culminating in the visit to Manila by Vietnamese Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang in early August. Another important achievement was the success of the first joint exercises on safety and between the two coast guards on search and rescue and firefighting at the South China Sea cementing cooperation, friendship, and trust between our two coast guards and our participation in important events in Hanoi such as the 2nd celebration of “Vietnam Coast Guard and Friends”, the 80th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army, and the Vietnam International Defence Expo 2024. Preparatory discussions are also being done by both sides in preparation for our bilateral engagements in 2025.
In terms of trade and agriculture cooperation, Philippine Secretary of Agriculture Francisco P. Tiu-Laurel held a 5-day visit to the Mekong Delta region to observe Vietnam’s high-tech and green farming practices. We also successfully conducted a series of discussions and study visits with the Vietnam agriculture authorities and experts, including the 3rd meeting of our Joint Committee on Agriculture Meeting in October 2024. These meetings are important to bridge understandings between the two sides, paving the way for concrete cooperation in this field.
These activities would not have been successfully concluded without the support of the Embassy and our friends from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam (MOFA). The Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Hanoi has been working continuously in the implementation of our agreements and shared commitments with Vietnam. We are firmly set on achieving our government’s desire for economic development, peace, and further understanding and integration with Vietnam.
Reporter: Vietnam and the Philippines are looking forward to celebrating 10 years of their Strategic Partnership next year. Could you share some planned activities for the celebration? What sectors should Vietnam and the Philippines promote to further foster cooperation between the two countries in the coming time?
Ambassador Meynardo Los Banos Montealegre: The Philippines looks forward to commemorating 10 years of Strategic Partnership with Vietnam. We have a lineup of activities to celebrate this historic milestone, more so that the Philippines and Vietnam will also be commemorating 50 years of diplomatic relations in 2026. These activities include roundtable discussions on Philippine Studies, and a number of cultural activities with Vietnam, highlighting our shared values and how the friendship and partnership between the two countries has developed over the years. We are preparing art workshops, weaving demonstrations and musical performances to further introduce Philippine culture to the Vietnamese audiences.
Building on President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s State visit to Vietnam from January 29-30, 2024, the Philippines looks forward to fostering maritime, agricultural, and cultural cooperation with Vietnam, and welcomes closer collaboration in other fields. This 2025, the Philippines will host some important bilateral meetings and a symposium on maritime cooperation as well as our 11th bilateral consultation mechanism with MOFA.
The Philippines looks forward to more active trade and investment cooperation between the two countries aimed at achieving the 10 billion USD goal set by our leaders during their meeting in January. Both sides are working towards the expansion of trade in industrial products and agricultural inputs and farm products, including rice and other agricultural commodities. We also hope to see more Vietnam businesses pouring into the Philippines as we work towards Philippine businesses prospering and expanding in Vietnam.
Education is one area that we could collaborate further, promoting more student and faculty exchanges between Philippine and Vietnamese universities. Efforts on climate change, the circular economy and disaster risk reduction are also areas where the Philippines and Vietnam could work closer in the future, and we look forward to welcoming delegations from both sides to boost cooperation and exchange best practices on these fields.
Reporter: Party General Secretary To Lam has recently set forth strategic directions to usher Vietnam into a new era – the era of the nation’s rise. What is your evaluation of the steps Vietnam is currently taking?
Ambassador Meynardo Los Banos Montealegre: The Philippines is aware of Party General Secretary To Lam’s strategic vision for Vietnam and we are keenly anticipating that all available resources of the Party and the Government will be mobilised to propel Vietnam to further economic development. The past few years are a testament to how well Vietnam is adapting to global trends despite the remarkable challenges brought about by non-traditional threats. We believe that the direction being given by the Party General Secretary is crucial in sustaining Vietnam’s rise in the region and in aligning its paths with more developed countries.
We note the many parallels between the Philippines’ and Vietnam’s plans. Last year, we released the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, which sets forth the Philippines’ priorities under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. In particular, Manila intends to champion innovation and digitalisation towards steady, sustainable, and stable economic growth, similar to Hanoi’s plans for digital transformation and economy.
As we celebrate the 10th year of our Strategic Partnership in 2025, the Philippines hopes to work with Vietnam in the realisation of both our domestic and international goals, for our own countries and for regional development within and outside ASEAN.
The year 2026 will also be crucial for the Philippine Embassy in Vietnam as we will be celebrating our 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Vietnam, which will coincide with the Philippines’ ASEAN chairmanship.
Reporter: Thank you for the interview!/.
