In his opening remarks, Philippine Ambassador to Viet Nam Francisco Noel R. Fernandez III reviewed the achievements of bilateral relations over the past 50 years, affirming that ties between the two countries have developed strongly.
The Philippine Ambassador said that since diplomatic relations were established 50 years ago (July 12, 1976–July 12, 2026), relations between the Philippines and Viet Nam have continued to deepen and expand across multiple fields. Since both countries joined ASEAN in 1995, they have regarded each other as important partners in promoting ASEAN’s central role, fostering economic growth and maintaining regional political stability.
Ambassador Francisco Noel R. Fernandez III stressed that the State visit to the Philippines by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam on May 31 marked a new milestone in bilateral relations as the two countries upgraded their ties to an Enhanced Strategic Partnership.
According to Ambassador Francisco Noel R. Fernandez III, the upgrade reaffirmed the determination of the two countries' leaders to further deepen bilateral cooperation while underscoring their commitment to multilateralism, international cooperation, respect for international law, and the principles of the United Nations Charter and the ASEAN Charter.
Regarding future cooperation, he said that Philippines-Viet Nam relations are currently enjoying an exceptionally strong period of development.
He expressed his hope that over the next 50 years, the Philippines and Viet Nam would continue to strengthen cooperation across all fields, including politics, economics, culture and education, through bilateral, regional and multilateral mechanisms.
On behalf of the Vietnamese Government and people, Politburo member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung stressed that Viet Nam-Philippines relations continue to receive close attention from the two countries' senior leaders.
According to Minister Le Hoai Trung, a major milestone was Party General Secretary and State President To Lam's State visit to the Philippines from May 31 to June 1, 2026, which created fresh momentum for bilateral ties as the two countries upgraded their relationship to an Enhanced Strategic Partnership.
Emphasising that both Viet Nam and the Philippines are entering a new stage of development, Minister Le Hoai Trung affirmed that bilateral relations constitute a valuable strategic asset for both countries.
He described the Philippines as Viet Nam's close neighbour and an important strategic partner within ASEAN, noting that the two countries also share a strong commitment to maintaining peace, stability and respect for international law.
Expressing confidence in the future of bilateral cooperation, he said Viet Nam and the Philippines would continue to be reliable partners, accompanying each other on their development journey in the new era.
