LOC16:28
13:28 GMT
NEW DELHI, Aug 5 (KUNA) -- India and the Philippines elevated on Tuesday their relationship to Strategic Partnership, said a government statement.
According to a statement from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held extensive talks with Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos, who arrived in New Delhi yesterday on a four-day state visit, along with an official delegation including cabinet ministers and businessmen, and decided among other things to establish a Strategic Partnership between the two countries.
"The Strategic Partnership is based on a mutual commitment to strengthen bilateral relations for the continuing peace, stability and prosperity of the two countries and the broader region, and serves as a foundation for the two countries to chart a future-oriented mutually-beneficial cooperation," the statement said. Both sides also adopted Plan of Action 2025-2029 to guide the Strategic Partnership.
Both agreed to strengthen political engagement through regular high-level exchanges and dialogue on bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral issues of mutual interest. They also agreed to foster greater cooperation across various sectors through effective operationalisation of existing Agreements and MoUs and early finalization of Agreements and MoUs under negotiation.
Both the nations agreed to intensify dialogue through the various bilateral institutional mechanisms, including the Joint Working Groups on trade and investment, counter-terrorism, tourism, health and medicine, agriculture and financial technology.
They also finalised 13 agreements and MoUs to strengthen strategic partnership, and cement ties between Army, Air Force and Navy of India and Philippines.
Addressing a joint press conference after the meeting, Modi said that dialogue at every level and cooperation in every field has long been the hallmark of relations between India and the Philippines. He added that he had detailed discussions on bilateral cooperation, as well as regional matters, and global issues with the President of the Philippines.
"Our bilateral trade is growing continuously, and has crossed the 3-billion-dollar mark. To boost it further, we are prioritizing an early completion of the review of the India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement. In addition, we have agreed to work towards a bilateral Preferential Trade Agreement.
"Information and digital technology, health, automobiles, infrastructure, minerals, science and technology, virology, AI, and additive manufacturing are some of the major areas both the countries are working together," Modi pointed.
"Our strengthening defence ties are a symbol of the deep mutual trust between our two countries. As maritime nations, cooperation in the maritime domain is both natural and essential," he said. Humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and Search and Rescue operations are areas India and the Philippines are consistently working together," Modi further highlighted. (end)
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