January 26, 2024
Hanoi – Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., along with his wife, will pay a state visit to Việt Nam from January 29-30 at the invitation of Vietnamese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Phạm Thu Hạng. said during a regular press conference on Thursday.
This will be President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr.'s first visit to Vietnam since taking office in June 2022.
In recent years, the relationship between Việt Nam and the Philippines has seen positive development in various domains. Political cooperation has been strengthened through high-level visits and meetings, Hằng said. Economic cooperation between the two countries has also seen great strides, with the Philippines becoming Vietnam's 6th largest trading partner in ASEAN and 16th largest globally. The Philippines is the largest market for Vietnamese rice exports.
Cooperation in important sectors such as national security, defense, education, training, labour, culture and tourism is continuously emphasized.
The spokesman said the two countries maintain close coordination in regional and international forums such as ASEAN, United Nations and APEC.
During the visit, the President of the Philippines is expected to hold talks with President Thuong and engage in key meetings and other activities with high-level leaders of Việt Nam.
ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Việt Nam's Foreign Minister Bùi Thanh Sơn will participate in the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Conference in Luang Prabang, Laos in January at the invitation of Saleumxay Kommasith, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Laos. 28-29.
The event serves as the launch of Laos' ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024, under the theme „Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience”.
The AMM Retreat provides an opportunity for ASEAN countries to align their directions and prioritize key areas of ASEAN cooperation throughout 2024. This includes focusing on improving ASEAN's external relations, exchanging views and promoting ASEAN's common approach to regional and international issues.
Following his participation in the AMM retreat in Laos from January 31 to February 2, Minister Sơn will attend the 3rd EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum and the 24th EU-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Brussels, Belgium.
At the 24th EU-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, ASEAN and the EU will review their cooperation, exchange activities to strengthen cooperation in the coming period, especially the implementation of the outcomes of the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit in 2022, as well as international and regional discussions on issues of mutual interest.
Participating in the 3rd EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum provides Việt Nam an opportunity to strongly promote relations with the EU and its member states, share and learn from international experiences in areas of mutual strengths and mutual interests, and contribute to mobilization. Resources to achieve Việt Nam's development goals, including green growth and addressing climate change.
Belgium's visit and activities are aimed at continuing to implement achievements since Vietnam Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính's visit to Belgium in December 2022 and improving bilateral relations with Belgium in all fields.
During the official visit, Minister Sơn is expected to hold talks with his Belgian counterpart and participate in other important activities. – VNS