Philippines and Vietnam Elevate Ties to Enhanced Strategic Partnership

The Philippines and Vietnam elevated their bilateral relations to an Enhanced Strategic Partnership during a two-day state visit by Vietnamese leader To Lam to Manila on June 1 and 2, 2026. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and To Lam announced the upgrade at Malacanang Palace, coinciding with the upcoming 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations in July.

The partnership establishes wider pathways for cooperation in defense, security, and economic sectors. The two countries signed multiple agreements covering information technology, digital transformation, academic exchanges, and tourism for 2026-2029. A central economic goal of the new partnership is to increase bilateral trade turnover to $10 billion, building on a current trade volume exceeding $7 billion.

Both leaders emphasized the necessity of maintaining a rules-based order in the South China Sea, stating that peace and stability in the region are non-negotiable. They reaffirmed their commitment to resolving maritime disputes through peaceful means based on international law, specifically the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The expanded cooperation also targets advancements in artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and food security.