Philippines-Vietnam strategic partnership anchored on enduring people-to-people ties

The Philippines leveled up its bilateral ties with Vietnam following President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s state visit last week. In 2015, the two countries forged a strategic partnership. Their diplomatic ties date back to 1976 during the incumbency of the President’s father; his mother, former First Lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos laid the groundwork.

President Marcos’ summit meeting with President Vo Van Truong focused on deepening economic relations and boosting “cooperation in agriculture, particularly in rice trading, market access for agricultural products, food security, energy security, infrastructure development, education, transportation management, innovation, tourism, connectivity, science and technology, and environmental protection, among others.”

A five-year Rice Trade Cooperation Agreement was agreed upon, assuring the Philippines of stable supply – indeed a timely response to the severity of the damage inflicted by El Niño on drought-hit Visayas and Mindanao rice fields that hit the headlines last week. Beyond assuring rice supply stability, the two countries also signed an agreement covering specific areas of cooperation in agriculture and rural development, including high-value crops, livestock and aquaculture, farm management and sustainability, smart agriculture and aquaculture techniques, and aquaculture technology.

On a broader scale, the two leaders agreed on increasing the tempo and volume of two-way trade and investment by leveraging on the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATGA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) aimed at “promoting more integrated supply chains among companies from the two economies.” A notional target of increasing trade volume to $10 billion has been set; this is vitally contingent on attainment of a business environment that promotes investment growth in sectors of interest to both countries.

The two leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to maintain peace, stability, maritime security and safety and freedom of navigation in, as well as overflight above the South China Sea, emphasizing the imperative need for restraint and non-escalation of disputes, in compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This is why both the Philippines and Vietnam are working with the rest of ASEAN in hastening the adoption of a Code of Conduct that will bind China and other countries whose expanded economic zones overlap.

Indeed, the Philippines has much to learn from Vietnam in terms of achieving sustained economic growth that fosters enhanced prosperity. From the devastation it suffered during the protracted war in Indochina, Vietnam has emerged as a model of disciplined transition from collectivism to a market-oriented economy.

Finally, as pointed out by President Marcos, the presence of Filipinos in Vietnam has fostered strong people-to-people links. By dint of their hard work and perseverance, Filipinos have assimilated themselves with the citizens of their host country, which he emphasized, is the only strategic partner of the Philippines in the ASEAN region. Indeed there is scope for broadening and deepening the ties that bind the Filipinos and Vietnamese peoples.