"Our partnership characterised by shared values, mutual trust": MoS Sanjay Seth on India-Philippines ties
New Delhi, June 13
Union Minister of State Defence Sanjay Seth highlighted the strengthening India-Philippines relationship, describing it as a "multi-dimensional and impactful engagement" during a Diplomatic Reception marking the 128th Anniversary of Philippine Independence.
Seth also expressed condolences over the devastation caused by the earthquake in Mindanao and extended wishes for the speedy recovery of the injured.
He said India and the Philippines are cooperating across multiple sectors, including defence, security, trade, science and technology, and tourism, and noted that the partnership has been boosted by increased connectivity and people-to-people ties.
Speaking at the Diplomatic Reception marking the 128th Anniversary of Philippine Independence, Seth on Friday said, "I extend warm greetings to the people and the government of the Republic of the Philippines on this special occasion. I would like to convey that we are saddened by the devastation caused by the earthquake in Mindanao. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and wish for the speedy recovery of the injured. The past year has been a historic one in the India-Philippines bilateral relationships."
"These ties are now being transformed into a closer, multi-dimensional, and impactful engagement... We have today emerged as a reliable partner cooperating across a wide spectrum of areas such as defence and security, HADR, trade and investments, science and technology, culture, tourism, and people-to-people ties, which have also benefited from the increasing direct connectivity," Seth said.
Seth said that the Philippines remains a key partner in India's Act East Policy and SAGAR vision, noting its role in ASEAN-India dialogue relations as the current chair of ASEAN.
He said the partnership between the two countries, "characterised by shared values, mutual trust, and complementarities," serves as an anchor for growth and resilience amid a changing geopolitical environment.
He added, "The Philippines is a key partner in India's Act East Policy and vision, SAGAR. We value the constructive role played by the Philippines as the country coordinator for ASEAN-India Dialogue relations, as the current chair of ASEAN. Our partnership, characterised by shared values, mutual trust, and complementarities, is an anchor for the growth and resilience in an era of geopolitical flux. We look forward to continue working together to further strengthen our strategic partnership."
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally our government is focusing on Southeast Asia properly! The Philippines being ASEAN chair gives us a great platform. But I hope this partnership isn't just about defence - we need more cultural exchanges and student programs too. My cousin studied in Manila and loved it, more Indians should get that opportunity.
As an American living in India, I find this partnership fascinating. India's Act East policy is a smart counterweight to China's influence in the region. The shared democratic values between India and Philippines make this a natural alliance. Hope to see more concrete outcomes from this cooperation.
Nice diplomatic move but a bit too much sugarcoating. What exactly are the 'shared values' and 'mutual trust' translating to in practical terms? We need more specifics on defence deals, trade numbers, and visa facilitations. All these speeches are fine but show me the contracts signed and the number of Filipino tourists visiting India. Still, any step to counter China's aggression in the region is welcome. 👏
The condolences for the Mindanao earthquake were a nice touch - shows India cares beyond just strategic interests. The Philippines is a beautiful country with wonderful people. I visited Manila last year and was amazed by how many Indian products were available there. This partnership has huge potential, especially in IT and pharmaceuticals. Hope our tourism boards collaborate more!
Interesting to see India positioning itself as a reliable partner in the Indo-Pacific. The Philippines with its strategic location is key. But I wonder how much of this is rhetoric vs reality - India needs to actually deliver on defence exports and maritime security cooperation. Actions speak louder than diplomatic speeches
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