PHL, Korea agree to enhance political, defense ties

The Philippines and South Korea pledged in talks on Tuesday to bolster political, economic and defense cooperation as both Asian nations prepare to commemorate the 70th anniversary of their bilateral ties next year.

Senior diplomats from the Philippines and South Korea announced at the end of their bilateral meeting in Manila that they will "continue working together to reinforce the long standing friendship and mutually beneficial partnership."

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Enrique Manalo led the Philippine delegation and Vice Foreign Minister Lee Tae-ho for Korea.

”We welcomed the steady growth of ties into a mature and ever growing relationship, underpinned by a continuing partnership to achieve mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation as well as supporting the larger region’s aspirations for peace, stability and prosperity,” Manalo said in a statement at the conclusion of the two-day meeting.

In-depth discussions took place on further strengthening bilateral relations and developing substantive cooperation in political affairs, defense and security, trade and investment, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and identified concrete activities and measures for their implementation, Manalo said.

During the meeting, Manalo said the Philippines advocated further cooperation in consular matters, labor, science and technology, transport and infrastructure, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), energy, health and environmental protection.

Around 100,000 Koreans are living in the Philippines while Filipino residents in Korea are estimated at 40,000.

South Koreans are one of the top tourist groups in the country, along with China, Japan and United States, with more than 1.4 million visitors in 2017, according to the Bureau of Immigration.

Korea has also provided equipment and fighter jets to the Philippine military.

Meanwhile, Manalo said the two sides are also discussing Philippine projects that could be funded by Korea's aid agency, Korean Official Development Assistance.

Convened every two years, the Philippine-South Korea Policy Consultation is the main forum for dialogue between the two countries. It provides significant opportunities for advancing effective cooperation towards the attainment of mutually beneficial goals. —NB, GMA News