The Philippines and South Korea agreed to elevate their relations to a new level that will enhance security, infrastructure, energy, and people-to -people exchanges.
Both countries made the decision for a stronger partnership during a bilateral meeting between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol in Sokha Hotel on the sidelines of the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.
“I do believe that it is time that we start to work to elevate our bilateral relations to a strategic partnership. Our newly launched bilateral platforms on science and technology, fisheries, cooperation and maritime cooperation, all contribute to the deepening of this engagement,” President Marcos said.
Also during the meeting, Mr. Marcos expressed his gratitude toward South Korea for its solidarity initiative centering on maritime security that entails infusion of significant funding in various regional cooperative projects.
Such initiatives include the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Fund of South Korea, according to the President.
Established in 1994, BIMP-EAGA aims to accelerate the socioeconomic development of less-developed, marginalized and geographically remote areas in those four countries as part of a broader goal to narrow the development gaps, not only among ASEAN member states, but also within them.
Mr. Marcos also backed South Korea’s efforts on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula as he expressed concern over North Korea’s continuous missile testing.
“This is of great concern and we are fully supportive of the Republic of Korea in all your efforts to denuclearize North Korea,” Marcos, quoted by a GMA News report, said.
“The Philippines is one with you on that and we will do what we can to assist South Korea in that effort,” he added.
This is the first time Marcos and Yoon met in person.
Diplomatic ties between the Philippines and South Korea were established on March 3, 1949.South Korea is also among Manila’s largest development partners.
Marcos thanked South Korea for its solidarity initiatives that seek to attain maritime security and entails an “infusion of significant funding in various regional cooperative projects.