New Delhi, Aug 4 (NationPress) Philippines President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr. on Tuesday conveyed his eagerness to collaborate with India towards a free and open Indo-Pacific. He expressed his satisfaction with the swift progress of the Philippines' defense modernization and the growing capabilities of India's indigenous defense industry, highlighted by the BrahMos project.

During a joint press briefing with Prime Minister Modi after their talks at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi, Marcos stated that both countries would enhance naval and coast guard interoperability through increased port calls, cooperative activities, and capacity building in the maritime domain.

"We have agreed to further develop our collaboration in defense and security. We are pleased with the rapid advancements in the Philippines’ defense modernization and the expanding role of India’s indigenous defense sector, as demonstrated by our BrahMos project. We believe that intensified dialogue and exchanges between our defense establishments are essential. Hence, we will establish mechanisms for service-to-service discussions aimed at information sharing and training exchanges among our military forces," he remarked.

"We are committed to improving naval and coast guard interoperability through collaborative initiatives and capacity building in the maritime sector. The economic domain has been a consistent driving force in our relations for more than seven decades. We have resolved to accelerate our efforts toward a bilateral preferential trade agreement and explore mutual opportunities to enhance two-way investment. Our rapidly growing innovative private sector will play a crucial role in our shared journey toward progress and development, fostering innovation, technology transfer, skills enhancement, and job creation for our people," the President of the Philippines added.

Expressing gratitude to the Indian Navy for rescuing Filipino citizens after a Houthi rebel assault last year, he noted that the relationship between the two nations has entered a new era as he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially inaugurated their strategic partnership.

The visiting leader also conveyed the Philippines' full support for India regarding the tragic April 22 Pahalgam incident.

"As representatives of our people, I bring forth the enduring friendship of the Filipino nation. I carry a message of solidarity with India in light of the tragic Pahalgam attack earlier this year and in our broader battle against terrorism. Despite these challenges, I also celebrate India's remarkable transformation and unwavering ambition to become Vikrit Bharat by 2047 under Prime Minister Modi's leadership," he stated.

He announced that India and the Philippines have agreed to enhance cooperation in defense and security, noting that India has now become the fifth strategic partner for the Philippines and emphasizing that this new partnership reflects the rapid growth and deepening of bilateral relations.

"I once again express my gratitude to the Indian populace and the brave men and women of the Indian Navy, through Prime Minister Modi, for your assistance in rescuing our nationals in 2024 after the Houthi rebel attack. We recognize India's pivotal role as a first responder in this critical region, and we aspire to collaborate with you for a free and open Indo-Pacific," he stated.

"Both nations share significant stakes in the future of the Indo-Pacific region and globally. The Philippines-India strategic partnership will undoubtedly extend beyond the limits of our bilateral relationship. Prime Minister Modi and I have pledged to enhance our cooperation on shared challenges, including a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, security, maritime law, supply chain resilience, food security, counter-terrorism, and other traditional and non-traditional threats," he added.

The visiting leader thanked PM Modi for India’s support in peacefully resolving disputes and adhering to international law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 arbitration ruling concerning the South China Sea. He mentioned that India and the Philippines have also agreed to expedite efforts to create a bilateral preferential trade agreement.

"I arrive at a critical moment in our bilateral partnership. Today marks the beginning of a new era as Prime Minister Modi and I formally launched the strategic partnership between the Philippines and India. For the Philippines, this is a significant decision as we take a well-considered approach to such elevated partnerships. Today, India becomes our fifth strategic partner, a testament to the remarkably rapid growth and deepening of our 75-year-old bilateral relationship. The potential represented by the strong upward trajectory of our economies reflects the growing alignment of our interests and perspectives on the challenges we face. This was also the auspicious context in which Prime Minister Modi and I engaged in extensive, productive, and future-oriented discussions over the past hour," he concluded.