The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that on the afternoon of April 24, 2025, at the Party Central Committee Headquarters, General Secretary To Lam received Philippine Ambassador to Vietnam Meynardo Los Banos Montealegre.
General Secretary To Lam highly appreciated the Ambassador's positive contributions to promoting the Vietnam -Philippines strategic partnership in recent years; emphasizing that by 2025 is particularly important, marking the 10th anniversary of establishing a strategic partnership between Vietnam and the Philippines; happy at the positive and effective development of the strategic partnership between the two countries, both within the bilateral and multilateral framework; affirming that Vietnam always attaches great importance to and desires to develop strongly, soon bringing strategic partnership with the Philippines to a new, deeper and more comprehensive height.
For his part, Ambassador Montealegre expressed his honor to greet General Secretary To Lam; To congratulate the Vietnamese people on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South, the reunification of the country and the upcoming 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and the National Day 2.9; Expressing admiration for the socio -economic development achievements that Vietnam has achieved over the past time.
The General Secretary suggested that the Ambassador pay attention to promoting a number of areas of bilateral cooperation, including: strengthening political-diplomatic cooperation through promoting exchanges and contacts at high and all levels; promoting economic connectivity, striving to soon bring two-way trade turnover to 10 billion USD; enhancing cooperation in the fields of security - defense, cooperation at sea and in the ocean; promoting cooperation in other areas such as culture, sports, tourism, education and training, climate change prevention, and minimization of the consequences of natural disasters.
Appreciating the effective and close coordination between the two countries at regional and international organizations and forums, especially the United Nations, ASEAN, APEC, ASEM..., the General Secretary affirmed that Vietnam will actively support the Philippines in successfully asserting the role of ASEAN Chair in 2026 and will coordinate with the Philippines as well as other ASEAN countries to promote intra-bloc solidarity, promote ASEAN's central role, towards a united, self-reliant and sustainably developed ASEAN.
General Secretary To Lam expressed his belief that the Ambassador will continue to contribute to promoting the strategic partnership between Vietnam and the Philippines to develop stronger, comprehensive and more actually, for the benefit of the people of the two countries, for peace, stability and development in the region and around the world.
Ambassador Montealegre reported to the General Secretary about some outstanding results in bilateral cooperation, especially after the visit of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Coming to Vietnam in January 2024; Thanks to the General Secretary for the important assessments and proposals for the two countries' relations in the coming time; Affirming the Philippine Embassy will actively coordinate with the relevant agencies of Vietnam to organize many practical and effective activities, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of establishing a strategic partnership and in 2026 will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as well as their best efforts to promote strategic partnerships between the two countries to develop extensively, substantially and more effectively in all fields.
