Vietnam, Philippines to Boost Co-operative Ties

by Ma Nguyen Tong

16-3-2003

Vietnam and the Philippines agreed to boost co-operation in trade, investment, agriculture, fisheries, science and technology, education and training, finance and banking and sports. The agreement was reached at the third session of the Vietnam-Philippines Joint Committee for Bilateral Co-operation held in Manila on February 27 and 28, 2003 under the chairmanship of Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien and his Philippine counterpart, Blas F Ople.

The two sides focused their discussions on orientations and concrete measures to make co-operation efficient and commensurate with the two countries' potentials. They also compared notes on expanding co-operation in security, national defence and the anti-crime fight.

Reviewing co-operative ties between the two countries, the two sides expressed their delight at the fast development of the friendship and comprehensive co-operation in the recent past, especially after the Philippines visit in November of 2001 by President Tran Duc Luong and the Vietnam visit a year later by President Gloria Arroyo. They noted with satisfaction the increases of meetings and visits by delegations from the two countries' ministries and businesses, thus contributing to boosting bilateral co-operation in many fields. Foreign Ministers Nien and Ople agreed to hold the Joint Committee's sessions every two years with the fourth in Hanoi in 2005.

During the stay in the Philippine, Foreign Minister Nien was received by President Gloria Arroyo who expressed her appreciation for the achievements gained by Vietnamese people in recent years as well as the country's role in the region and the world. President Arroyo said the success of the session would accelerate the co-operation relations between Vietnam and the Philippines.

Foreign Minister Nien said he believed that the Philippine people under the leadership of President Arroyo would successfully implement their five year plan, thus becoming an industrially developed nation by 2020 and contributing to peace, co-operation and development in the region and the world.