Manila, Philippines – After President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s visit to Japan, he is set to welcome Vietnamese President To Lam, for a two-day state visit to the country scheduled for May 31 to June 1.
In a statement issued by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), Marcos and To Lam are expected to discuss strengthening collaborations between the two countries, particularly in trade and investment, food security, defense, maritime cooperation, education, tourism, and people-to-people exchange.
The two leaders will also have a bilateral meeting that will reflect on the five decades of strengthened cooperation between the Philippines and Vietnam.
To Lam’s state visit is considered historic as a General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, after he was elected as president of Vietnam in April.
The Vietnamese leader’s visit also in conjunction with on the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations between the two countries.
Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Vietnam were established on July 12, 1976, and the strategic partnership was further strengthened on November 17, 2015.
Hanoi is considered Manila’s sole strategic partner in Southeast Asia, promoting cooperation at the government, private sector, and grassroots levels.
Both Manila and Hanoi target two-way trade with the goal of reaching USD10 billion in bilateral trade turnover.
There are more than 7,000 Filipinos based in Vietnam, where a Philippine Consulate General is expected to open in Ho Chi Minh City by mid-2026.—Alvin Pelobello, Eurotv News