MANILA, June 1 (Reuters) - The Philippines and Vietnam are elevating their ties to an enhanced strategic partnership, reaffirming that shared commitment to peace and stability in the South China Sea is "non-negotiable," President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Monday during a state visit by Vietnam's top leader To Lam to Manila.
Marcos said there is no doubt the Philippines and Vietnam share a common interest in maintaining peace, stability and a rules-based order in their region, adding that the partnership has become more important as the region navigates an evolving and uncertain global environment.
• Marcos said the deeper ties would be "defined by wider pathways for cooperation, stronger political and defence cooperation, and closer linkages between the Filipino and Vietnamese people."
• Vietnam is the Philippines' lone strategic partner in the ASEAN region, after they upgraded ties 10 years ago in a show of unity against China.
• Marcos said Manila and Hanoi reaffirmed that maintaining peace, stability, and the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea "remains non-negotiable."
Marcos said there is no doubt the Philippines and Vietnam share a common interest in maintaining peace, stability and a rules-based order in their region, adding that the partnership has become more important as the region navigates an evolving and uncertain global environment.
• Marcos said the deeper ties would be "defined by wider pathways for cooperation, stronger political and defence cooperation, and closer linkages between the Filipino and Vietnamese people."
• Vietnam is the Philippines' lone strategic partner in the ASEAN region, after they upgraded ties 10 years ago in a show of unity against China.
• Marcos said Manila and Hanoi reaffirmed that maintaining peace, stability, and the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea "remains non-negotiable."
3 days ago
