The leaders of the Philippines and the ROK agreed to establish a strategic partnership

South Korean President Yoon Seok-yoon held talks with Philippine President Marcos Jr. in Manila on Monday, with the two sides agreeing to establish a strategic partnership and strengthen all-round cooperation.

This is the first time that South Korea and the Philippines have proposed a new orientation for their relations since they established diplomatic ties in 1949.

Yonhap news Agency reported that the South Korean president's office news, taking the opportunity of the summit meeting, Han and the Philippines signed a "memorandum of understanding on the restart of the feasibility investigation of the Bataan nuclear power Plant project." Yin Xiyue said at the meeting that South Korea has been selected as the preferred negotiating partner for new nuclear power plant projects in the United Arab Emirates and the Czech Republic, and can also become the best nuclear power partner of the Philippines.

Marcos Jr. said that the Philippines is willing to carry out active cooperation with the ROK.

The two sides decided to strengthen cooperation in the fields of national defense, military industry and maritime affairs. Specifically, the ROK army will participate in coastal military exercises by the Philippines; The scope of the ROK's participation in the Philippine Armed Forces modernization project (2023-2028) will be further expanded; South Korean and Philippine coast guard agencies signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation on maritime security.

On the economic front, South Korea will allocate $2 billion from the Korea Foreign Economic Cooperation Fund (EDCF) to provide loan support for the cross-sea bridge project promoted by the Philippine side in the "Build Better More" infrastructure plan. The two sides also agreed to push for the early entry into force of the free trade Agreement signed between the two countries in September 2023.

Yin and Marcos also exchanged views on the Korean nuclear issue and other regional security situations. According to the South Korean presidential office, Yoon Seok-yue and Marcos Jr. agreed that North Korea will never be allowed to develop nuclear weapons and launch nuclear provocations, as well as military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. The two sides agreed to work together to establish a rules-based maritime order in the South China Sea and ensure freedom of navigation and flight.