The Philippines and Cambodia have signed eight agreements covering tax frauds, agriculture, tourism, digital transformation, investment, and technical vocational education, among others.
President Marcos and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet have met at the Malacañan Palace on Tuesday morning until afternoon, Feb. 11, to hold bilateral talks which they concluded with the presentation of the eight agreements, most of them were memorandums of understanding (MOU).
The agreements include the Agreement for the Elimination of Double Taxation with Respect to Taxes on Income and the Prevention of Tax Evasion and Avoidance; MOU on Agricultural and Agribusiness Cooperation; MOU on Cooperation in the Fields of Information and Communications Technology and Digital Transformation; MOU on Tourism Cooperation; MOU on the Cooperation in the Field of Technical Vocational Education and Training; MOU on Implementation of Competition Law; MOU on Prevention of Looting and Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Property; and Memorandum of Intent (MOI) on Investment Promotion.
Marcos said, in his speech during the joint press conference, that Cambodia and the Philippines "are eager to further elevate the growing cooperation between our countries across diverse areas of mutual interest."
Bilateral ties
During their bilateral meeting, Marcos said they discussed ways to maximize both countries' cooperation and explore new opportunities to deepen their bilateral ties.
He disclosed that they have "discussed comprehensively" the two nations' efforts to combat transnational crimes and protect their respective communities from unscrupulous individuals "who take advantage of the industrious nature and strong sense of family of our peoples."
"On trade and investment, we welcome our formal cooperation on the avoidance of double taxation and the exchange of best practices in competition law that the Philippines and Cambodia both consider as critical to entice and facilitate greater bilateral investments and economic activities between our business sectors," he said.
He also noted that the two sides have signified their intention to exchange information on strategies and practices in investment promotion and in attracting investments, thus the signing of the MOI on Investment Promotion.
Marcos also cited the defense cooperation between the two countries, hoping they both continue to exchange best practices towards attaining regional peace.
"We are also pleased with the growing partnership between our militaries and uniformed services. I anticipate the continued exchange of best practices and knowledge to support our mutual aspiration for regional peace and security and our collaborative efforts in enhancing our resiliency," he said.
In talking about the agreements on technical vocational education and tourism, Marcos stressed that the "two instruments will lead to more vibrant exchanges between Filipinos and Cambodians learning together, using their skills to advance our industries and our economies, as well as experiencing the hospitality, warmth, and natural wonders of our respective countries."
Marcos further said that the agreement on ICT and government digital transformation, on the other hand, would enable both sides to undertake mutually-beneficial initiatives, such as sharing of technical expertise, common promotion of ICT projects, and organizing capacity-building engagements.
The renewed agreement on the prevention of looting and trafficking of cultural properties, he added, reaffirmed the countries' commitment to "safeguard highly-regarded cultural items, to facilitate expert exchanges, and to promote collaboration that can enable future generations to appreciate the remarkable representation of our history and our identity."
On the topic of agriculture and agribusiness, Marcos expressed hope for both Filipinos and Cambodians in the agricultural sector to actively participate in various programs under the agreement.
Marcos also expressed his eagerness to welcome more Cambodians to the Philippines as tourists, investors, business partners, and trusted friends.
Although both countries have agreed on various cooperation, the President said there are much more work to be accomplished.
"Yet even with all our recent successes, there remains much work to be done. We are in the process of bolstering our cooperation in customs, higher education, and culture, among many other fields of endeavor. I am confident we will soon advance our bilateral cooperation in these important areas as well," he said.
In his speech at the press conference, Marcos also extended his gratitude to Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni for the Royal Pardon granted to 13 Filipino surrogates who were sentenced in Cambodia, but who have since returned to the Philippines last December.
"We thank the Cambodian government for ensuring their safety and their well-being," he said.
Long-lasting friendship
Although the Philippines and Cambodia established diplomatic relations on August 20, 1957, the visiting Cambodian Prime Minister underscored that the friendship between the two countries is long lasting, with historical ties that date back to 1872.
"The friendship between our two countries is long lasting, with historical ties that date back to 1872 when the late His Majesty and King Norodom visited the Philippines. Over the decades, our relationship has flourished, built on mutual respect and shared interests. This year marks the 60th year of diplomatic relations," he said.
"Our collaborations extend beyond government-to-government ties. But it is rooted in a strong bond between our two peoples. I appreciate the Philippines' contributions to our peace process and human resource development in civilian and military fields," he added.
Manet also recognized the vital role of the Filipino community in their socioeconomic progress, stressing that the two countries' cooperation spans across multiple sectors, from defense and security to trade, investment economy and people-to-people exchanges.
"We are keen on taking our collaborations to new heights," he told the President during their bilateral talks.
The Philippines currently has 24 bilateral agreements with Cambodia.
Manet is on his first official visit to the Philippines, which began on Monday at the invitation of the President.