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| RP-Vietnam to sign accord to bolster relations between two countries |
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The Philippines and the Socialist Republic of
Vietnam are scheduled to sign today a bilateral agreement to further deepen
and invigorate relations between the two countries. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung are to witness the signing of the Philippines-Vietnam Plan of Action 2007-2010 after their meeting this afternoon in Malacanang. Prime Minister Tan Dung arrived at 3 p.m. today at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for a two-day official visit to the country. Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and his Vietnamese counterpart, Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem, would sign the accord at the Reception Hall of Malacañang. The Philippines-Vietnam Plan of Action 2007-2010 aims to realize the goals and strategies set out in the “Framework of Bilateral Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the Next Century and Beyond,” which was signed in Hanoi in November last year. The Plan of Action is expected to further intensify Philippine-Vietnamese relations in the areas of political, security and defense, economic matters, regional and international cooperation. The agreement also calls for the strengthening of cooperation in agriculture, fisheries and forestry, energy security, tourism, health, education, culture, science and technology, social welfare and development, and maritime and ocean concerns. The two leaders will also witness the signing of the “Protocol on Cultural Cooperation” and the “Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Trade Promotion” before they hold their expanded bilateral meeting also in Malacanang. Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Vietnam started to blossom in July 1976, a year after the reunification of North and South Vietnam, upon the signing of a Joint Communique by then Philippine Foreign Minister Carlos P. Romulo and Vietnamese Vice Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs Phan Hien. Since then, there have been high-level visits between the two countries, including the state visit of President Macapagal-Arroyo to Vietnam in 2002, and the state visit of President Tran Duc Luong to the Philippines in 2001. |
| Vietnamese PM starts two-day official visit |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo welcomed in
Malacañang late this afternoon Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung,
who is in Manila on a two-day official visit to further expand bilateral
relations between Vietnam and the Philippines. President Arroyo and First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo met Prime Minister Dung and Madame Tran Thanh Kiem upon their arrival at the Palace lobby. Due to bad weather, the scheduled full military honors with 21-gun salute was dispensed with in welcoming Dung. After the foyer honor rites, the President and PM Dung proceeded to the second floor of the Palace Main Reception Hall where the latter and Madame Kiem signed the Presidential Guest Book. On their way to the Reception Hall, the President introduced one after another her Cabinet members to PM Dung. Among them were Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila, and Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap. President Arroyo and PM Dung later proceeded to the Music Room for their meeting, which was followed by an expanded bilateral meeting at the Ramos Music Conference Room. The two leaders also witnessed the signing of bilateral agreements between the two countries on trade promotions, protocol on cultural cooperation, and the Philippines-Vietnam Plan of Action for 2007-2010. The Philippines and Vietnam are both members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). |
| 3 agreements to bolster RP-Vietnam relations signed |
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The Philippines and the Socialist Republic of
Vietnam signed today three agreements to further deepen and invigorate
bilateral relations between the two countries in the next three years and
beyond. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung witnessed the signing of the Philippines-Vietnam Plan of Action 2007-2010 after their meeting this afternoon in Malacanang. Prime Minister Tan Dung arrived at 3:00 p.m. today at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for his two-day official visit to the Philippines. Those who signed the agreement at the Reception Hall of Malacañang were Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and Vietnam Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phan Gia Khiem. The Philippines-Vietnam Plan of Action 2007-2010 aims to realize the goals and strategies set out in the “Framework of Bilateral Cooperation Between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the Next Century and Beyond,” which was signed in Hanoi in November last year. The Plan of Action is expected to further intensify bilateral relations in the areas of political, security and defense, economic matters, and regional and international cooperation. The agreement also seeks to strengthen cooperation in agriculture, fisheries and forestry, energy security, tourism, health, education, culture, science and technology, social welfare and development, and maritime and ocean concerns. President Arroyo and PM Dung also witnessed the signing of the “Protocol on Cultural Cooperation” and the “Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Trade Promotion” before they held their expanded bilateral meeting in Malacanang. Chairman Ambeth Ocampo of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and Hoang Tuan Anh of the Minister of Culture and Sports and Tourism of Vietnam were the signatories in the agreement. And to further promote trade and investments between the two countries, Teresa Reginio, officer-in-charge of the Bureau of Export Trade Promotion-Department of Trade and Industry, and Do Thang Hai, director general of the Department of Trade Promotion of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam, signed the Memorandum of Agreement on Trade Promotion. The MOA on Trade Promotion between the DTI’s Bureau of Export Trade Promotion (BEPT) and the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (Vietrade) was a result of discussions on trade and investment cooperation during the November 2002 state visit of President Arroyo to Vietnam. Highlights of the agreement include: exchange of information on important economic and trade issues, exchange of trade missions, participation in each other’s trade fairs, and organization of training programs and exchange of experts. Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Vietnam started to blossom in July 1976, a year after the reunification of North and South Vietnam, upon the signing of a Joint Communique by then Philippine Foreign Minister Carlos P. Romulo and Vietnamese Vice Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs Phan Hien. Since then, there have been high level visits between the two countries, including the state visit of President Arroyo to Vietnam in 2002, and the state visit of President Tran Duc Luong to the Philippines in 2001. |
| PGMA calls for continuing, stronger cooperation between RP and Vietnam |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
on Thursday night called for continuing and stronger cooperation between the
Philippines and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam “in local, regional and
global affairs” in the wake of the challenges posed by rapid globalization. |
