Duterte to visit Vietnam on Wednesday

President Rodrigo Duterte is set to fly to Vietnam on Wednesday for a two-day visit, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Monday.

DFA spokesperson Charles Jose said Duterte will be in Hanoi on September 28 to 29 as part of his introductory visits to neighboring countries.

“While in Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, the President is scheduled to meet with the state President Tr?n ??i Quang and pay a courtesy call on other top leaders of the Vietnamese government,” he said in a briefing in Malacañang.

“Preparations have also been made for a meeting with the Filipino community in Vietnam who are expected to travel to Hanoi from various parts of the country. There are an estimated 3,800 Filipinos in Vietnam,” Jose added.

Jose said Duterte and the Vietnamese leaders will discuss maritime cooperation, enhancement of law enforcement and defense cooperation, increasing two-way trade and investments, strengthening joint cultural activities, as well as heightened exchanges in agriculture and fisheries.

“The leaders are also expected to exchange views on regional and international issues,” he said without elaborating.

The visit came after Duterte and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguy?n Xuân Phúc held a bilateral meeting at the margin of the ASEAN Summit last September 6 in Vientiane, Laos.

Formal ties between the Philippines and Vietnam were established on July 12, 1976, meaning 2016 marked the 40th anniversary of the diplomatic relations.

South China Sea

Jose did not confirm presidential communications secretary Martin Andanar's statement last week that the South China Sea dispute will be discussed during Duterte's visit to Vietnam trip, but said the President will be prepared to discuss the issue.

“If ever this will be discussed, this will be in the context of, of course, emphasizing the need or the importance of maintaining, peace, stability, security in the region,” Jose said.

“And it will be in the context of reaffirming our firm commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes and our adherence to the rule of law, and the same time to reiterate our commitment also to continue working with ASEAN for the full and effective implementation of the 2005 DOC and for the early conclusion of the legally-binding Code of Conduct,” he added.

Vietnam also has claims over some parts of the South China Sea being claimed wholly by China. —KBK, GMA News