PH, Vietnamese solons discuss defense cooperation at IPU sidelines

Lawmakers from the Philippines and Vietnam have highlighted the importance of defense and security amid maritime issues faced by the Southeast Asian countries at the sidelines of the 148th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Geneva, Switzerland.

According to the information released by the Senate's Social Media Unit, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, along with Senator Nancy Binay, met with Vietnam's delegation headed by Tran Quang Phuong, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly, who was joined by other members of the parliament, Don Tuan Phong, Nguyen Van Chi, and Vu Minh Tuan last March 24.

They were joined by Ambassador Carlos Sorreta, the Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations in Geneva.

During the bilateral meeting, the Vietnamese parliamentarians expressed openness for more exchanges with Filipino lawmakers at all levels and channels to explore further cooperation, especially in defense and security, agriculture, tourism, education, and people-to people exchanges.

The need to maintain close inter-parliamentary coordination through multilateralism was also stressed in the discussion.

Tran Quang Phuong has likewise recognized the strategic partnership between the Philippines and Vietnam. This partnership will mark its 10th anniversary in 2025, while the two countries will be celebrating its 50th year of bilateral ties in 2026.

The lawmakers from Vietnam have also conveyed to the Filipino senators that they view the Philippines as a "leading, emerging market in the world" and they congratulated the country for its hosting of the 31st Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum in November last year.

The Vietnamese lawmakers also acknowledged the "strong development of its trade relations with the Philippines."

For his part, Zubiri agreed with the need for a defense cooperation with Vietnam "especially in the light of the maritime issues in the region."

Zubiri praised Vietnam for its courage in defending their territory and acknowledged them as Philippines' "close friend and strategic ally in the region, with a shared vision of prosperity for its people."

The chief of the Philippine Senate likewise tagged Vietnam as a "model for economic growth," considering its quick and progressive economy and thanked it for its help in ensuring rice supply for the Philippines even during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Further, Zubiri informed the Vietnamese lawmakers of the Philippines' ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership-- a free trade deal among countries in the Indo-Pacific Region-- which is seen to encourage more business with Vietnam.

In January, the Presidential Communications office (PCO) announced that Vietnam has committed to a five-year rice trade agreement with the Philippines after the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding during the state visit of President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. in Hanoi.

The 148th IPU Assembly, which has the overall theme "Parliamentary diplomacy: Building bridges for peace and understanding," started last March 23 and ended on March 27.

The IPU is the global organization of national parliaments with 180 member parliaments out of the 193 countries in the world.

Apart from Zubiri and Binay, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, Senators Pia Cayetano and Lito Lapid were part of the Philippine delegation to the IPU Assembly.

In his speech at the 148th IPU Assembly General Debate, Zubiri appealed to his fellow lawmakers to be "facilitators of peace" amid wars in different parts of the world.

He likewise appealed to the IPU members to stand with the Philippines in promoting international rules-based order in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).—AOL, GMA Integrated News