President Benigno S. Aquino III proposed the holding of more cultural exchanges between
the Philippines and Vietnam to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the establishment of
diplomatic ties between the two countries next year.
In a toast at the state banquet hosted by President Nguyen Minh Triet at the government
guesthouse here Tuesday evening, President Aquino assured his Vietnamese counterpart
that relations between the two countries will continue to prosper under his administration.
The President expressed great satisfaction with the signing of four agreements between the
Philippines and Vietnam which will strengthen cooperation in higher education, defense and
maritime affairs. He said the mutual commitment of both countries to find additional areas of
cooperation will benefit the Filipino and Vietnamese peoples.
Triet in turn, expressed his gratitude for the strong support given by the Philippines during it’s
chairmanship of the ASEAN, and reiterated his confidence that the Philippines will make even
bigger progress under President Aquino’s leadership.
Vietnam has been a strategic partner of the country for the past 34 years after the
establishment of bilateral ties between the two nations in 1976.
Since then, relations between the two countries have consistently grown to encompass not
just politics, but more importantly, trade and investments, education, defense, fisheries,
maritime and ocean affairs, and environmental concerns, among others. (PCOO/PIA)
