Philippine seeks stronger ties with Vietnam, Laos

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will convene official meetings with Vietnam and Laos to review current relations and explore ways to strengthen bilateral ties.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo leads a delegation to the two Southeast Asian countries from July 31 to Aug. 5.

Manalo is in Hanoi from July 31 to Aug. 3 for the 10th Philippines-Vietnam Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) where the two countries are set to discuss areas of cooperation in defense, maritime, economic and people-to-people engagements.

He is also slated to speak at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam on the theme, “Philippines-Vietnam Strategic Partnership in the Age of Change.”

The secretary will then travel to Vientiane for the 2nd Philippines-Laos JCBC on Aug. 3 to 5.

He will also engage with the diplomatic community through his talk at the Institute of Foreign Affairs, entitled “Closer Together: People at the Center of Philippines-Laos Relations.”

The JCBC is a mechanism for the Philippines, Vietnam and Laos for comprehensively discussing bilateral relations, as well as various regional and global issues.