President Rodrigo Duterte and South Korean leader Moon Jae-in on Monday signed four bilateral agreements on social security, tourism, fisheries, and education.
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Moon also expressed his people’s love for the Philippines during their meeting in Busan.
“The Korean people love the Philippines. Koreans are the number one visitors to the Philippines,” Moon told President Duterte.
Moon also said the 70-year ties between the Philippines and Korea should be elevated to a strategic partnership.
“The elevation of our relations will pave the way for our countries to engage in greater cooperation that will lead us to common prosperity,” he said.
Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said exploring new partnerships and cooperation will be among Duterte’s main goals in his second visit to South Korea to attend a summit there.
He made the statement even as Duterte is slated to participate in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Panelo said the summit will be a venue for the President to discuss with other regional leaders ways to address new world challenges such as protectionism, non-conventional security threats, transnational crimes and cybercrime, among others.
South Korea remained the Philippines’ top tourism market in 2018 with over 1.6-million arrivals.
Last week, South Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Han Dong-man said he promised Duterte that he would increase that number to two million during his term as envoy.
Duterte said Filipinos and Koreans “share a unique affinity” and thanked Seoul for its $100,000 donation to Mindanao’s earthquake victims.
“I assure you that the Philippines will continue to find common cause and purpose with the Republic of Korea towards enhancing our bilateral engagement and promoting peace and stability in your region,” Duterte said.
On his arrival, Duterte was welcomed at the Gimhae Air Base by South Korean Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Lee Tae-ho, Deputy Director-General of Public Diplomacy/Task Force Philippines Team Leader Kyun Jongho and Ambassador to the Philippines Han Dong-Man.
Also present in welcoming the President were Philippine Ambassador to Korea Noe Wong and Chief of Presidential Protocol and Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs Robert Borje.
Earlier, Wong said the Philippines was pushing for the conclusion of a free trade agreement with South Korea to slash import tariffs on certain products including bananas.
South Korea imposes a 30-percent tariff on Philippine-produced bananas while ASEAN-member countries enjoy better preferential treatment, he said.
While Duterte is in Korea, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea will take care of the day-to-day operations in the Office of the President and will oversee the general administration of the Executive department until Nov. 26.
