President Rodrigo Duterte is all set for an official visit to Vietnam on September 28 and 29, which aims to strengthen diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries.

In a pre-departure briefing in Malacañan on Monday, Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Charles Jose said President Duterte is scheduled to meet with Vietnamese President Trần Đại Quang and to pay a courtesy call on other top leaders of the Vietnamese government.



Jose said the leaders are expected to discuss various areas of bilateral exchanges including maritime cooperation, enhancement of law enforcement and defense cooperation, increasing two-way trade and investments, strengthening joint cultural activities, as well heightened exchanges in agriculture and fisheries.



They are also expected to exchange views on regional and international issues, he added.



The President is likewise scheduled to meet with the Filipino community in Vietnam.



“Preparations have also been made for a meeting with the Filipino community in Vietnam who are expected to travel to Hanoi from various parts of the country,” Jose said adding that that is an estimated 3,800 Filipinos working and living in Vietnam.



The Foreign Affairs official noted that bilateral relations between the Philippines and Vietnam “have been growing and deepening steadily since formal ties were established on July 12, 1976.”



He said this year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

“The President’s visit to Vietnam at this time will add to the various commemorative activities being done by both the Philippines and Vietnam to celebrate this historical milestone,” Jose said.



“The President’s visit will also be an opportunity to solidify the strategic partnership between the two countries,” he added.



Jose likewise said that during the visit, President Duterte and his counterpart will be able “to set the direction and specific activities to be pursued in line with the vision of the joint statement on the establishment of strategic partnership between the Republic of the Philippines and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, which was signed in Manila in November 2015.”
 


He also recalled the initial meeting between President Duterte and Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc’s which was held at the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit and Related Summits on September 6 to 8, 2016 in Vientiane, Laos. PND