Two countries vow to continue close bilateral relationship
The Philippines and South Korea celebrated the 75th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties at a downtown hotel in the latter country's capital Seoul earlier this week.
Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who now leads the Council of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), took part in the event along with Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director-General Kim Dong-bae.
Included among the participants among ASEAN envoys were Myanmar Amb. THANT SIN, Brunei Amb. Dk Nooriyah PG YUSSOF, Timor-Leste Amb. Gregório José da Conceicão FERREIRA DE SOUSA, and Cambodia Amb. CHRING Botumrangsay.
Touching upon the long-standing relations between the Philippines and Korea, Philippines Amb. Theresa Dizon-De Vega said that the two sides’ strong people-to-people ties exemplified by the sacrifices during the Korean War were cited as the core of the bilateral relations.
More than seven decades after the Philippines became the fifth nation to recognize the Republic of Korea on March 3, 1949, the two nations’ long-standing ties were fortified by their common commitment to democracy, respect for human rights, and a rules-based international order, she added.
The two countries embraced the democratic pathway as the linchpin of their respective independent, nation-building enterprises, she also noted.
About the prospect of both countries’ future, Amb. Dizon-De Vega said, “While we commemorate the past, we likewise look to the future.”
The Philippines’ President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. states in his message to South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, “As we celebrate the diamond jubilee of our relations, I look forward to a future-oriented partnership…the upgrade of our relations to a strategic partnership will open fresh avenues for growth.”
Further, Philippines Amb. Vega hoped for friends from the Korean government, the private sector, the international community, and the Filipino and Korean communities to experience many commemorative events and activities throughout its 75th anniversary year.
He hoped for stronger cooperation from Korea’s engagement in the “Build Better & More Infrastructure” program of the Philippines through which landmark structures such as the highly-anticipated and transformative Panguil Bay Bridge project in Mindanao will open this year.
He said that the benefits would be reaped from the two countries’ recently signed free trade agreement to cooperation on defense and security, green technology, energy, bio-engineering, health, critical minerals, creative industries, digitalization, labor, and smart agriculture.
Former UN Secretary-General Ban visited Manila last week to meet President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and to discuss the cooperative agendas with regard to climate change.
Ban said that the Philippines is one of the most fragile countries in terms of the influence of climate change, and for that reason, the Philippines has to devote its efforts to helping the people of the Philippines in partnership with the GGGI.
Ban added that many nations in the world would go hand in hand with the GGGI to overcome the crisis of climate change.