Marcos back in PH after Vietnam state visit

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. arrived in the country at dawn Wednesday from a two-day state visit in Vietnam.

Philippine Airlines PR001 carrying Marcos and his entourage landed at Villamor Airbase in Pasay City at 2:47 a.m.

"The State visit aimed to further strengthen our strategic partnership with Vietnam," said Marcos in a recorded speech posted online.

"I met with His Excellency Võ Van Thuong, President of Vietnam, and we discussed areas of cooperation including defense, maritime, trade and investment, economic, education, tourism and culture. We also witnessed the exchange of several agreements including on rice, agriculture, culture, and maritime cooperation," he added. 

According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), Marcos had separate meetings with Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, where they discussed the strengthening of bilateral relations to people-to-people exchanges, parliamentary cooperation, and many other areas of collaboration. 

Marcos was invited by the Vietnamese President to deepen cooperation and trade ties between the two nations.

During the bilateral meeting of the two leaders, Marcos asked for Vietnam’s support for the Philippines' bid to host the Loss and Damage Fund, which seeks to provide financial assistance to countries that are most vulnerable and impacted by climate change.

Marcos said he is also hoping to work with Vietnam on projects aimed toward land-based and marine pollution abatement, given that both countries are vulnerable to climate change.

In terms of trade and investment, Marcos said the government has successfully safeguarded the interest of Filipino businesses operating in Vietnam.

“We have successfully safeguarded the interest of Filipino businesses operating in Viet Nam by providing them with the platform to voice their experiences, plans, and challenges at the very highest level,” he said.

Marcos mentioned that the Vietnamese community has grown in the Philippines.  He said the Vietnamese are much appreciated by the Filipinos.

Earlier, Marcos met with executives of the Vingroup Company, one of Vietnam’s leading private enterprises whose core pillars are on technology and industry, trade and services, and social enterprise.

According to the Presidential Communications Office, Vingroup's subsidiary Vinfast is registering in the Philippines to be in electric vehicle (EV) marketing, energy storage, and nickel processing partnerships. — LDF/BAP/KBK, GMA Integrated News