3 days ago
Marcos tells South Korea's Lee: Int'l support necessary for PH maritime interests
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. has emphasized the significance of continued international support for the Philippines' maritime interests and regional stability to South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.
Marcos pointed this out during his first telephone conversation with the South Korean leader on Thursday, wherein they reaffirmed the strong and enduring strategic partnership between the Philippines and South Korea.
To recall, President Lee assumed office on June 4, 2025.
'We discussed expanding trade and investment, advancing development initiatives, infrastructure and people-to-people exchanges,' Marcos said.
'We also remarked that our Strategic Partnership is an opportunity to deepen and expand relations,' he added.
During the phone call, Marcos conveyed his warm congratulations and expressed his full support for President Lee's administration.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the strategic partnership, emphasizing cooperation in key areas such as trade and investment, defense and security, and people-to-people ties.
Marcos also mentioned the Philippines' appreciation for South Korea's longstanding support for the country's development and advocacies.
Marcos further expressed his eagerness to meet President Lee during the upcoming high-level events, such as the 2025 APEC Summit, which will be hosted by South Korea later this year.
President Lee, for his part, expressed support for deeper engagements with the ASEAN as the Philippines assumes ASEAN chairmanship in 2026.
The Presidential Communications Office said that the Philippines and South Korea established diplomatic relations on March 3, 1949, marking 76 years of formal ties in 2025.
Ties between the two nations were elevated through the Joint Declaration on the Establishment of a Strategic Partnership on October 7, 2024, reflecting a shared commitment to enhance cooperation across key sectors, including political, security, economic, and socio-cultural.
The PCO said that in 2024, South Korea ranked as the Philippines' 4th largest trading partner, 5th export destination, and 4th biggest import source, with total bilateral trade reaching USD 13.2 billion. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
