Vietnam Embassy in Philippines: A bridge for cooperation between the two countries

After the diplomatic establishment between Viet Nam and the Philippines on July 12th 2021, Viet Nam officially launched our Embassy in Manila, Philippines. On January 1978, the Embassy was honored to receive the very first official visit by Viet Nam then-Foreign Minister, H.E. Nguyen Duy Trinh, to the Philippines, signing the first document for bilateral cooperation: Agreement for Cooperation on Trade, Science and Technology signed on January 9th 1978.

Ambassador Hoang Huy Chung virtually presented the Credentials of the President of Viet Nam to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on June 19th, 2020.

From that day forward, around 30 agreements, accords, memorandums of understanding have been signed between our countries, covering from national defense to security, trade, investment, education, culture, tourism, agriculture and aquaculture.

On November 17th 2015, the two countries’ Foreign Ministers signed Joint Statement on the establishment of Viet Nam - Philippines Strategic Partnership, officially elevated bilateral relations to a new era. The Embassy of Viet Nam in Manila becomes a strategic link for cooperation, pushing for deeper and more fruitful connection between the two countries’ governments, agencies, companies and communities.

On political scale, high-level visits are one of the most significant achievements in the bilateral relations. The Embassy of Viet Nam in Manila plays an active role in the arrangements for high-level visits and meetings.

Most recently, the then-Prime Minister of Viet Nam, H.E. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, visited the Philippines and attended the ASEAN Summit in April and November 2017. In return, the Philippines’ President, H.E. Rodrigo Roa Duterte, officially visited Viet Nam in September 2016 and attended APEC Leaders’ Meeting in Da Nang in November 2017.

Since the beginning of 2020, despite the severe impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in the Philippines as well as all around the world, the two countries’ leaders managed to keep their good contact. In May 2020, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and President Duterte held a phone call, reaffirmed their commitments to continue strong bilateral coopertion between the two countries in the context of the pandemic.

Recently, following the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and the elections of the countries’ new leaders, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte of the Philippines has extended his Message of Congratulations to the new President of Viet Nam, H.E. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and the new Prime Minister of Viet Nam, H.E. Pham Minh Chinh.

Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, H.E. Teodoro Locsin Jr., also extended his Message of Congratulations to and held a telephone call with the new Minister of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam, H.E. Bui Thanh Son. Strong political relations have become the condition for and incentive to many joint projects implemented on various fields between the two countries.

On economic scale, cooperation has enjoyed positive growth through the annual increase in trade. From just 541 million USD in 2000, trade has risen to 3 billion USD in 2015, 3.2 billion USD in 2016, 4 billion USD in 2017, 4.7 billion USD in 2018, more than 5 billion USD in 2019 and continued to stay around 5 billion USD despite the fierce impact of the pandemic. Viet Nam and the Philippines are each other’s fifth largest trading partners within ASEAN.

Filipino companies’ investment in Viet Nam was recorded at 560,5 million USD by the end of 2020, ranking 29th out of 139 nations and territories investing in Viet Nam. Vietnamese investors are also increasingly interested in exploring potential areas for business in the Philippines.

Today, the Viet Nam - Philippines Joint Trade Committee (JTC) is the main mechanism for boosting economic cooperation. The Trade Office and the Economic Affairs Sector of the Embassy are in close coordination to connect, support and assist business cooperation activities, promote Vietnamese goods in the Philippines.

In the current pandemic situation, a number of Vietnamese companies doing business in the Philippines are facing difficulties. The Embassy of Viet Nam in the Philippines has actively responded to every request for support, trying our best to protect the legal and legitimate rights of our companies.

In addition, Viet Nam and the Philippines also enjoy growing ties in education, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges. In October 2010, the two countries signed Agreement on Educational Cooperation, pushing the number of Vietnamese students in the Philippines to grow quickly. In November 2011, the two countries signed Plan on Tourism Cooperation for the period 2012-2015.

Vietnam Chairman of the Council of Minister Pham Van Dong and Philippine Prime Minister Ferdinand Marcos signed joint statement during the visit to the Philippines, September 1978. (Source: VNA)

The number of Filipino tourists in Viet Nam has jumped from 27.000 in 2008 to 180.000 in 2019. In 2014, with the strong support of the Embassy of Viet Nam in Manila, the Viet Nam - Philippines Friendship Association in Ha Noi and the Philippines - Viet Nam Friendship Association in Manila were established, further bolstering the strong ties between our peoples.

In November 2018, Ha Giang Province of Viet Nam and Benguet Province of the Philippines signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the Sisterhood ties, invigorating the local government linkages between Viet Nam and the Philippines.

Today, around 5.000 Filipinos are living and working in the Viet Nam, mainly in tourism and English teaching sectors. Whereas, around 3.000 Vietnamese are living and working peacefully in the Philippines.

Since the beginning of 2020, cultural, educational and tourism exchanges have been almost frozen because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Embassy of Viet Nam on one hand actively connected with relevant agencies of the Philippines to quickly transfer face masks and other medical supplies from Viet Nam to the Philippines right at the beginning of the pandemic. On the other hand, the Embassy has also made every effort to protect Vietnamese citizens in the Philippines.

45 years have gone by since the diplomatic establishment between Viet Nam and the Philippines. The two countries have gone a long way on the journey of friendship and partnership, built up a close and trusted political ties, an ever growing economic connection, a deep and fruitful people to people linkage.

et, we have still a long way to go with the Philippines – Viet Nam Action Plan on the Implementation of the Strategic Partnership for 2019-2024 adopted by the two countries’ Foreign Ministers on March 6th 2019.

Undoubtedly, with the momentum we have gained in the past 45 years, Viet Nam – Philippines cooperation under Strategic Partnership framework will continue to grow, not only for the benefit of the two countries, two peoples, but also for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and in the world.

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