PH, South Korea elevate ties to strategic partnership

The Philippines and South Korea elevated their relations to strategic partnership, President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. said on Monday.

Marcos announced this during the joint press statement with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is currently on a state visit to the Philippines.

''Our decades of cordial relations have developed into a comprehensive partnership that spans political, defense, economic, socio-cultural, maritime, and many other fields, across various levels of engagement,'' Marcos said.

''And today, I am pleased to announce that the Philippines and the Republic of Korea have formally elevated our relations to a Strategic Partnership, adding further impetus to the strengthening and deepening of our cooperation in an increasingly complex geopolitical and economic environment,'' he added.

Maritime cooperation

Marcos said he discussed regional and international matters with Yoon, particularly issues in the West Philippine Sea and the Korean Peninsula.

The Philippine President welcomed South Korea's efforts to promote peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula.

A maritime cooperation agreement was also signed between the two countries, Marcos said. He said the deal would promote order and safety in the Asia-Pacific region.

''To strengthen understanding, mutual trust, and confidence, and for the purpose of the promotion, preservation, and protection of our mutual maritime interests, including maritime order and safety in the Asia-Pacific region, we have signed the Memorandum of Understanding between the Philippine Coast Guard and the Korea Coast Guard on Maritime Cooperation,'' Marcos said.

For his part, Yoon said his country would help in the modernization efforts of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

''We agree to enhance our cooperation in [the] defense industry, in particular Korea will actively take part in the Rehorizoned 3 Phase of the modernization of the AFP,'' Yoon said.

To recall, it was in January of this year when Marcos approved revisions for "Horizon 3" of the Philippine military's modernization program.

Meanwhile, Yoon said the two countries would also reinforce security partnership when it comes to addressing transnational crimes, information sharing and rescue missions.

Other agreements signed between the Philippines and South Korea were the following:

• Memorandum of Understanding on the Economic Innovation Partnership Program (EIPP);
• Memorandum of Understanding for Strategic Cooperation on Critical Raw Material Supply Chains;
• Memorandum of Understanding on the Feasibility Study of Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP);
• Memorandum of Understanding on the Laguna Lakeshore Road Network Project (Phase I), and the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges Project; and
• Implementation Program of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Tourism and the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of the Republic of Korea for 2024-2029.

— AOL/RSJ, GMA Integrated News