Toast Remarks by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at the State Luncheon in Honor of President and General Secretary To Lam and Madame Ngo Phuong Ly

His Excellency To Lam;

Madame Ngo Phuong Ly;

First Lady Louise Araneta – Marcos;

Honorable Members of the Philippine and Vietnamese delegations;

Distinguished guests;

Ladies and gentlemen;

A pleasant afternoon to you all.

I am delighted to welcome General Secretary and President To Lam and the members of his delegation to the Malacañan Palace this afternoon.

Your Excellency’s historic State Visit comes at an auspicious moment in our shared history as it is held at the cusp of the 50th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations and a decade of our Strategic Partnership.

Today, we do not merely share this banquet as partners and neighbors with a common vision. We gather as captains sailing towards the same horizon of aspirations that will benefit our peoples and nurture prosperity and peace for our region and the world.

The conversations that we held this morning were both substantial and far-reaching, reflecting the profound trust that defines our relations.

By officially elevating our ties to an Enhanced Strategic Partnership today, we have opened another chapter to thecontinuing dynamism of our diplomatic relations.

Our two nations are connected by more than just geographic proximity across the South China Sea. We are bound by a seafaring heritage, a fierce pride in our independence, and an unwavering belief in the resilience of our people.

Our interests converge in the advocacies for energy and food security, addressing emerging threats, ocean sustainability, international law and the peaceful settlement of disputes.

And even as the Philippines and Viet Nam may sometimes hold differing perspectives on certain regional issues, our two countries have consistently demonstrated the maturity and strategic foresight to pursue constructive dialogue and practical cooperation.

I am confident that the years ahead will see even stronger ties between our two governments, and between the Filipino and Vietnamese peoples, nurtured through harmonious, vibrant, and productive interactions.

With our deeper engagement, stronger people-to-people ties, and more substantive collaboration, we look to a future that the Philippines and Viet Nam will not merely face, but boldly navigate together.

On behalf of the Government and people of the Philippines, allow me, therefore, to offer a toast:

– To the continued success and good health of General Secretary and President To Lam and Madame Ngo Phuong Ly;

– To the enduring, deepening, and Enhanced Strategic Partnership between the Philippines and Viet Nam;

– To the peace, prosperity, and development of the ASEAN region and the wider Indo-Pacific.

Mabuhay and Chúc mừng!

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