Malacañan Palace
January 2, 2024

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. received the letter of credence from His Excellency Lại Thái Bình, Resident Ambassador-Designate of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Philippines, in a ceremony at the Reception Hall in Malacañan Palace.

In presenting his credentials, Ambassador-Designate Bình expressed his anticipation towards further strengthening warm and friendly relations between Vietnam and the Philippines.

In response, President Marcos Jr. warmly welcomed the Vietnamese Ambassador and expressed his optimism in exploring more areas of cooperation between their two countries, citing that he and Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính discussed for hours during the last Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit 2023.

The Philippines and Vietnam formally established diplomatic relations on 12 July 1976 and elevated their bilateral relations to a strategic partnership by signing a Joint Statement in November 2015. The rationale of the strategic partnership is based on amity, equity, mutual respect and cooperation wherein both countries would build upon and enhance existing bilateral mechanisms, operationalize concluded agreements and seek even newer avenues to deepen cooperation in various fields.

*  *  *