PH eyes expanding maritime cooperation with India

The Philippines is looking forward to expanding maritime cooperation with India, an official from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Friday. 

This was mentioned by Assistant Secretary Evangeline Ong Jimenez-Ducrocq of the Office of Asian and Pacific Affairs (DFA-ASPAC) during a pre-departure briefing for the state visit of President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. to India next week. 

''Part of our ongoing relationship with India is in maritime cooperation activities. So we look forward to expanding these,'' she said. 

The visit is scheduled from August 4 to 8, upon the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Marcos' first stop will be in New Delhi, and he will proceed to Bangalore for official meetings and events. The President will also meet with the business sector in both cities.

West Philippine Sea

Also on Friday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said the Philippine Navy and Indian Navy are set to conduct its first joint maritime cooperative activity in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

In a statement, the AFP said "the joint activity will be the first of its kind in the West Philippine Sea—a region increasingly central to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific." 

According to the AFP, the joint sail of the Philippine and Indian navies in WPS will be conducted next week. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News