By Brian Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reaffirmed his commitment to deepening and expanding the Philippines’ strategic partnership with South Korea as he held a phone call with South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung on Thursday.
In a news release, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said Marcos congratulated Lee, who assumed office on June 4, expressing full support for the South Korean president’s administration.
During their conversation, Marcos also thanked the South Korean government for its longstanding support for development in the Philippines.
“Had a productive call with Republic of Korea President Lee Jae Myung to reaffirm our Strategic Partnership as we mark 76 years of diplomatic relations,” Marcos said in a Facebook post.
“We discussed expanding trade and investment, advancing development initiatives, infrastructure and people-to-people exchanges,” he added.
Marcos likewise stressed the importance of continued international support for the country’s maritime interests as well as advocating for regional peace and stability.
In line with this, the Chief Executive said he is looking forward to meeting with Lee at the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, which South Korea will host later this year.
Lee, for his part, conveyed his country’s support for stronger cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with the Philippines set to assume chairship in 2026.
The Philippines and the Republic of Korea established diplomatic relations on March 3, 1949.
Relations between the two countries were elevated through the Joint Declaration on the
Establishment of a Strategic Partnership on Oct. 7, 2024, reflecting a shared commitment to enhancing cooperation across key sectors.
Aside from South Korea, the Philippines also has a strategic partnership with the United States, Japan, Australia, and India.
