New Delhi, October 19: Bolstering bilateral and diplomatic relations, India and Philippines on Friday agreed to fortify defence and maritime security partnership. The two countries also committed to work closely together to defeat and eliminate terrorism in all its forms as President Ram Nath Kovind held wide-ranging talks with his Philippine counterpart Rodrigo Duterte at his official residence, the Malacanan Palace.
Acknowledging that the relations between the two countries have grown from strength to strength, Kovind said, “We have strong cooperation in political, defence and security, counter-terrorism, trade and investment as well as in agriculture, science & technology and health fields.”
The president noted that the two countries have been the victims of terrorism with India being the target of cross-border terrorism for decades, in an apparent reference to Pakistan. “We committed to work closely together to defeat and eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” he said.
Kovind arrived in the Philippines on Thursday as part of his five-day state visit to the country. Prez Kovind’s visit to the Philippines is taking place in this landmark year when we are celebrating 70 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries,” Kovind said in a press statement along his Philippine counterpart Duterte.