December  2009

Viet Nam and the Philippines established diplomatic relation on July 12^th 1976. The relations between the two countries are enjoying good relations in the areas of politics, enocomics, trade – investment, security and defense, agriculture...

1. In terms of political cooperation: The two countries signed “Framework on bilateral cooperation in the 1st quarter of the 21st century and beyond“ on the occasion of President Arroyo’s offficial visit to Viet Nam on November 2002. The Foreign Ministers of the two countries have signed Plan of Actions for the period 2007 – 2010 on the occasion of the official visit to the Philippines by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (8/2007). The two sides have frequently exchanged high-level visits, most recently are the official visit to the Philippines by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (8/2007), the visit to the Philippines by Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem (2/2008).

2. Economic, trade and investment cooperation:

- On March 1994, the two countries signed Agreement to set up Joint Commission on Economics, Science and Technology between the two governments and have convened 5 sessions as of now.

- Trade: the two way trade has recorded gradual increase over the years, from 541 US$ millions in 2000 to 2.2 US$ billion in 2008, ahead of schedule of 2 US$ billion for 2010. Due to impacts of global financial crisis, in the first 9 months of 2009, the turnover has reached 1.5 US$ billion. Rice is the main exporting commodity of Viet Nam to the Philippines in the past years (1.5 – 2 billion tons of rice per year), followed by electronic equipments, agricultural products. Besides, Viet Nam imports from the Philippines fertilizer, equipments, minerals, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, building materials….

- Investments from the Philippines to Viet Nam remains modest. As of 10/2009, Philippines possessed 43 investment projects with the total capital of more than 300 US$ million, ranked the 26^th among the countries/territories doing business in Viet Nam. In July 2008, Philippine Trade and Investment Centre was set up in Ho Chi Minh City to explore the business opportunities in Viet Nam.

3. Agricultural cooperation: Relations between Viet Nam and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) was established since 1968. Some Vietnamese agricultural experts have been trained in the Philippines by the IRRI. Currently, 60-70% squares of rice planting in Viet Nam have been applied technology from the IRRI. 

4. Education cooperation: This is a potential aspect of cooperation between the two countries. The number of Vietnamese students are increasing. There are currently 500 Vietnamese students studying in the Philippines by various source of scholarships.

5. Exchange of visits:

a) The visits to the Philippines by Vietnamese leaders: Foreign Minister Nguyen Duy Trinh (01/1978); Prime Minister Pham Van Dong (9/1978); Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet (2/1993); Chairman of National Assembly Nong Duc Manh (5/1993); Deputy Prime Minister Tran Duc Luong (12/1993); Foreign Minister Nguyen Manh Cam (02/1995); President Le Duc Anh (12/1995); Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Cong Tan (6/1998); Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Nguyen Manh Cam (7/1998); Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien (6/2000); President Tran Duc Luong (11/2001); Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien (2/2003); Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Van An (12/2003); Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Phu Trong (9/2006); Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (8/2007). Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem (02/2008); Public Security Minister Le Hong Anh (02/2009).

b/ The visits to Viet Nam by the Philippine leaders: Foreign Minister R.Manglapus (1988); Speaker of House of Representatives Ramon Mitra (1991); Foreign Minister Roberto Romulo (1992); President F.Ramos (1994); Foreign Minister Domingo L. Siazon Jr. (1997 and 1999); President J. Estrada (1998); Former President Fidel Ramos (1999); Speaker of House of Representatives De Venecia (1999 and 2002); President Arroyo (2002); Former President Akino (2003); Foreign Minister Delia Domingo Albert (2004); Senate President Drilon (2004); President Arroyo attend ASEM 5 summit (2004) and APEC 14 (11/2006); Foreign Minister Romulo (2005),  APEC (2006) and FMM (5/2009); Secretary of Home Affairs and Local Governments (5/2009);