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Philippine Ambassador to Vietnam Francisco Noel R. Fernandez III. (Photo: VGP/Hoang Thuyen)

At the invitation of President of the Republic of the Philippines Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. and his spouse, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam To Lam, his spouse and a high-level Vietnamese delegation, will pay a State visit to the Philippines from May 31 to June 1, 2026.

Speaking with the VGP ahead of the visit, the Philippine Ambassador shared that this marks the first visit to the Philippines by a General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and also the first official meeting between the highest-ranking leaders of the two countries.

The visit takes place on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, providing an opportunity for both sides to look back on their cooperation journey while shaping a vision for bilateral ties for many decades ahead.

According to Ambassador Fernandez, the visit’s agenda will cover nearly all areas of cooperation, including trade, culture, education, security, ASEAN cooperation, and multilateral forums, including the United Nations. The foundation of Vietnam-Philippines relations is now strong enough to enter a new stage of development with a longer-term vision.

Vietnam-Philippines relations accelerate strongly

Assessing the notable achievements in bilateral relations in recent years, the Ambassador said that people-to-people exchanges have grown significantly thanks to the launch of direct flights in recent years. Currently, around 430,000 Philippine tourists visit Vietnam, while approximately 33,500 Vietnamese tourists travel to the Philippines.

Whereas travel previously required transit through a third country, many Philippine cities now have direct flights to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang. The Philippines also hopes that Vietnamese airlines will open additional routes to further enhance connectivity.

In the field of education, an increasing number of Filipino students are pursuing undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral studies in Vietnam, while Vietnamese students are also participating in study and internship programs in the Philippines. According to Ambassador Fernandez, educational cooperation is helping build a long-term foundation for bilateral relations by strengthening mutual understanding among younger generations.

Regarding defense and security cooperation, the Ambassador highlighted exchange visits between the Philippine Coast Guard and the Vietnam Coast Guard, as well as plans to provide English-language training for Vietnamese officers in the Philippines and Vietnamese-language courses for Philippine military personnel. Both sides are also expanding cooperation in military sports and exchanges among ASEAN armed forces.

Bilateral economic relations are also considered to be growing strongly. Many Philippine corporations have invested in Vietnam in sectors such as food production, renewable energy, infrastructure, water supply, and port operations.

Several Philippine enterprises are currently operating water treatment plants in Vietnam under joint venture models, while also participating in expressway projects under build-operate-transfer schemes. Vietnam is also interested in the Philippines’ experience in managing international ports to develop its domestic seaport system.

Conversely, Ambassador Fernandez highly appreciated Vingroup’s introduction of electric vehicles to the Philippine market, viewing it as a timely move as the Philippines promotes green transportation and seeks solutions to energy-related challenges. The presence of Vietnamese enterprises in the Philippines reflects a long-term commitment to cooperation between the two economies.

According to the Ambassador, one of the most notable cultural highlights of this visit will be the first-ever performance of Vietnam’s traditional water puppetry at the historic Intramuros site in Manila.

Vietnam and the Philippines promote a shared vision for the blue economy in ASEAN

Referring to the role of the two countries within ASEAN, Ambassador Fernandez stated that Vietnam and the Philippines are both dynamic middle powers whose strengths complement one another rather than compete.

At the ASEAN Summit in Cebu, Vietnam shared its experience in economic development, while the Philippines proposed an initiative to establish an ASEAN Maritime Center aimed at enhancing the effective utilization of the region’s shared marine resources.

The Ambassador particularly emphasized the potential for cooperation in the blue economy. Accordingly, both Vietnam and the Philippines share common interests in the sustainable exploitation of marine resources, the development of marine tourism, and the preservation of ecosystems. Ha Long Bay stands out as a typical example of a blue economy model associated with tourism and sustainable aquaculture.

Regarding prospects for economic cooperation, the Ambassador noted that a Vietnamese business delegation will accompany Party General Secretary and State President To Lam during his visit to the Philippines. The two sides will organize a bilateral business forum to explore new cooperation opportunities. Current bilateral trade turnover stands at approximately USD 8.3 billion, and leaders from both sides hope to soon raise the figure to over USD 10 billion.

Looking ahead, Ambassador Fernandez expressed confidence that trade, investment, and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries will continue to grow strongly over the next decade. Cultural similarities between the peoples of the two nations, together with increasing demand for marine tourism, will foster deeper connectivity.

At the same time, investment in education and student exchange programs will help cultivate a new generation of “ambassadors” for Philippines-Vietnam relations, thereby ensuring a sustainable foundation for bilateral ties in the long term.

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