Vietnam President Truong Tan Sang  held a “brief but insightful” meeting recently with  Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr.  and other senior leaders of the House of Representatives on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)  summit.

The dialogue, held at the New World Manila Bay Hotel, focused on strengthening regional cooperation, as well as political and economic ties between the Philippines and Vietnam, Belmonte said.

President Sang was in Manila to attend the two-day APEC Leaders Meeting. 

During his visit, the Philippines and Vietnam  signed a joint statement on the establishment of strategic partnership to elevate their cooperation on peace, stability and prosperity in the Southeast Asian region.

The joint statement underscores the need for the two countries “to mutually cooperate and collaborate towards ensuring that its respective territories will not be used by any organization or non-state actor, to threaten the sovereignty, territorial integrity or political and economic stability of either country.”

Both countries also said they aim to “strengthen bilateral and regional cooperation between and among maritime law enforcement and maritime safety administration agencies through dialogue and coordination, practical cooperation and capacity-building activities, recognizing that maritime and ocean issues are vital aspects of bilateral cooperation.”

The two countries also exchanged copies of a signed protocol amending the 2010 Philippines-Vietnam memorandum of agreement on the supply of Vietnamese rice to the Philippines.