PH, Vietnam to boost maritime cooperation and defense ties

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met during the ASEAN Summit to reaffirm their commitment to enhancing the strategic partnership between the Philippines and Vietnam.

The leaders expressed satisfaction with the progress made since their previous discussions, noting that talks initiated two years ago are now bearing fruit.

Both nations are pursuing closer maritime cooperation through two new deals and are set to boost defense ties with a landmark pact expected by the end of the year.

In August, the Philippines and Vietnam held their first joint coast guard training exercises near Manila Bay, the first between two Southeast Asian countries that are also co-claimants in the disputed South China Sea.

The Philippines and Vietnam share common interests in the South China Sea, where they have managed disputes peacefully and cooperated on various fronts.

Vietnam is one of only four countries with which the Philippines holds strategic partnership status, alongside Japan, Australia, and South Korea.