Rody in Vietnam for 2-day state visit

HANOI — President Duterte arrived here yesterday afternoon for bilateral meetings with Vietnamese officials and vowed to work with Vietnam and the rest of members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in curtailing the proliferation of illegal drugs.

“I am confident that, as we build on the outcomes of this visit, the relations between the Philippines and Vietnam will become even stronger, pursued, as it has to be, with mutual respect, closer cooperation and deeper understanding,” he said.

The President arrived at 4 p.m. at the Noi Bai International Airport with his delegation, including Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, Sen. Francis Escudero, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar and Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco.

While here, Duterte would work closely with his counterparts in the ASEAN to find ways to collaborate in the campaign against illegal drugs.

Duterte and Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang will discuss measures to curb the narcotics trade.

“We shall also seek ways to advance collaboration in the campaign against the illegal drug trade, consistent with the goal of realizing an ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) drug-free community,” Duterte said.

“We will work with Vietnam and the rest of the ASEAN in suppressing the proliferation of illegal drugs for us to secure a better future for our generation and the generations to come,” he added.

Duterte also said his two-day visit coincides with the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two Southeast Asian countries. It also came as the two countries are preparing leadership roles in international events.

“For the past 40 years, the Philippines and Vietnam have fostered a strong relationship built on a common desire towards achieving greater peace and prosperity, anchored on the basic tenets of sovereign equality, non-interference and peaceful settlement of disputes,” he said.

“I am confident that, as we build on the outcomes of this visit, the relations between the Philippines and Vietnam will become even stronger, pursued, as it has to be, with mutual respect, closer cooperation and deeper understanding,” he added.

Maritime cooperation, rice imports and electronics

Philippine Ambassador to Vietnam Noel Servigon said the two countries would also embark on maritime cooperation, including fishing rights in the South China Sea.

The Philippines, Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei have competing claims in the South China Sea.

The United Nations arbitration tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines in its maritime dispute against China over the West Philippine Sea.

“We believe that the Philippines and Vietnam can further improve their maritime cooperation. We believe that the sea that divides us should be more of a bridge that unites the two countries,” Servigon said.

“There are many areas there for cooperation, especially in the field of fisheries, that is one of our emphasis here. And we hope that with the visit of the President, we will open more avenues for us to find better ways for interaction in terms of maritime,” he added.

Servigon is also expecting that the President’s visit will strengthen further the cooperation in rice importation.

In 2015, Vietnam topped the nine countries that supplied rice imported to the Philippines. It accounted for $223.3 million or 48 percent of rice imports. Vietnam was followed by Thailand, India, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Spain, United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.

Servigon expressed optimism that the Philippines, in return, may open its markets to Vietnam in the field of electronics.

“We believe by identifying the different markets here in Vietnam as they improve their economy into a market economy, there would be also more markets for our products, especially in the field of electronics,” Servigon said.

Duterte to create more jobs

Meanwhile, members of the Filipino community in Hanoi hope that Duterte’s plan to create more jobs in the Philippines will materialize so Filipinos will not have to leave the country to seek greener pastures abroad.

They also expressed support to the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

Feliciano Felix Jr. and Noel Lopez, president and vice president of the group Pinoy sa Hanoi, yesterday said the big number of Filipinos who wanted to meet Duterte during his visit is an indication of support for the President, particularly his intent to improve job opportunities for Filipinos.

Duterte met with the Filipino community at the Grand Ballroom of the Intercontinental Hotel last night.