Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung attends ceremony marking 50 years of Vietnam–Philippines diplomatic relations
WVR - On the evening of July 9, in Hanoi, the Philippine Embassy in Vietnam held a ceremony to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Philippines. Politburo Member, Party Secretary of the Ministry, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung attended and delivered a speech at the ceremony.
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In his opening remarks, Philippine Ambassador Francisco Noel R. Fernandez III affirmed that the relations between the two countries have seen significant development over the past half-century.
From a friendship established in 1976, the two nations have grown closer as ASEAN members since 1995, always considering each other as important partners in promoting ASEAN's central role, fostering economic growth, and maintaining political stability in the region.
The Ambassador emphasised that the State visit to the Philippines by General Secretary and President To Lam on May 31 marked a new development in bilateral relations as the two countries upgraded their relationship to an enhanced strategic partnership.
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| Philippine Ambassador Francisco Noel R. Fernandez III delivering the opening speech. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
According to the Ambassador, this event further affirms the determination of the leaders of both countries to deepen cooperative relations, while reaffirming their commitment to multilateralism, international cooperation, adherence to international law, as well as the principles of the United Nations Charter and the ASEAN Charter.
Assessing the prospects for cooperation, the Ambassador affirmed that the Philippines-Vietnam relationship is currently at a very favourable and strong stage of development. According to him, 50 years in the relations between nations is just the beginning, laying the foundation for the next generation of leaders to continue to inherit and elevate bilateral relations to new heights.
Ambassador Francisco Noel R. Fernandez III expressed confidence in the future cooperation between the two countries, which holds vast potential. In the next 50 years, the Philippines and Vietnam need to continue to accelerate the development of relations across all fields, from politics, economy, culture to education, both bilaterally, regionally, and multilaterally.
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| Politburo Member, Party Secretary of the Ministry, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung speaking at the ceremony. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
On behalf of the Government and people of Vietnam, Politburo Member, Party Secretary of the Ministry, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung emphasised that the relationship between the two countries continues to receive deep attention from the high-level leaders of both sides.
According to the Minister, a notable milestone was the historic State visit to the Philippines by General Secretary and President To Lam from May 31 to June 1, 2026, which created new momentum for bilateral relations, especially with the upgrade to an Enhanced Strategic Partnership.
Minister Le Hoai Trung affirmed that the 50-year diplomatic relationship only reflects a part of the historical bond between the two peoples.
Before officially establishing diplomatic relations, Vietnam and the Philippines had long-standing connections through maritime trade, knowledge exchange, culture, and building friendship based on a shared aspiration for peace and development.
Minister Le Hoai Trung emphasised that both Vietnam and the Philippines are entering a new phase of development.
For Vietnam, the 14th National Congress of the Party opens a new era of development, aiming to become a developing country with modern industry and upper-middle-income by 2030, and a developed, high-income nation by 2045.
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| Politburo Member, Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung and Philippine Ambassador Francisco Noel R. Fernandez III raise a toast to the good relations between the two countries. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
In this context, the Minister affirmed that the Vietnam-Philippines relationship is a valuable strategic asset for both countries.
The Philippines is a close neighbour and an important strategic partner of Vietnam in ASEAN, and both countries share a strong commitment to maintaining peace, stability, and the rule of international law.
Expressing confidence in the prospects for cooperation, Minister Le Hoai Trung believes that with the strong political determination of the leaders of both countries, the complementary nature of the two economies, the increasingly deep connections between the peoples of the two countries, and a shared commitment to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region, Vietnam and the Philippines will continue to be reliable partners, accompanying each other on the path of development in the new phase.
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| Delegates posing for a group photo. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
