MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON COOPERATION BETWEEN DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC…

The Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, hereinafter referred to as “the Participants”;

Aspiring to strengthen the excellent friendship and cooperation between the Participants;

Recognizing that effective collaboration and cooperation between the Pa1iicipants will contribute to the advancement of the Strategic Partnership between the Philippines and Viet Nam, the promotion of the mutual interests of both countries, the advancement of a united, dynamic and prosperous ASEAN Community, and peace, stability and cooperation in the region and beyond;

Building upon the outcomes of the 9^th Meeting of the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation of the Philippines and Viet Nam held in Manila on 5–6 March 2019;

Pursuant to Item 5, Chapter I of the Philippines – Viet Nam Plan of Action for Implementation of the Strategic Partnership for 2019 – 2024 signed in Manila on 6 March 2019;

In accordance with the relevant laws and regulations of each country, the functions, mandates and jurisdiction of each Participant, and in compliance with the international treaties to which each country is a Party,

Have reached the following understanding:

PARAGRAPH 1

OBJECTIVES
1. To strengthen cooperation, understanding and trust between the Participants on the basis of the Strategic Partnerships between the two countries.

2. To foster close collaboration for effective implementation of the Philippines – Viet Nam Plan of Action for Implementation of the Strategic Partnership for 2019 – 2024.

3. To actively contribute to building a peaceful, stable, prosperous, people-centered, resilient and innovative ASEAN Community, to enhance ASEAN centrality and to promote peace, stability and development in the larger region.

PARAGRAPH 2

AREAS OF COOPERATION
1. The Participants will promote and maintain regular exchange of visits at the Foreign Ministerial level or between their senior officials.

2. The Participants will endeavor to regularly convene collaborative and consultative mechanisms, particularly the Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation meeting (JCBC), and convene political consultations at the Deputy Foreign Ministerial level to supplement the JCBC.

3. The Participants will explore the possibility of establishing a hotline to exchange information and promptly handle emergencies, as warranted.

4. The Participants will continue to regard the cooperation in maritime and ocean affairs as a pillar of their Strategic Partnership. In that connection, the Participants will endeavor to continue discussing and consulting with each other on maritime issues at all levels; maintain the Joint Commission on Maritime and Ocean Cooperation at the Deputy Foreign Ministerial level, and harness the supporting role of the Joint Working Group on Maritime and Ocean Cooperation (JPWG–MOC).

5. The Participants will strengthen information exchange, consultation and cooperation for common interests at international and regional fora and organizations, particularly at the ASEAN-led forums, the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Asia–Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and the Asia–Europe Meeting (ASEM), among others.

6. The Participants will collaborate closely to effectively implement the Philippines – Viet Nam Plan of Action for Implementation of the Strategic Partnership for 2019 – 2024. They will encourage similar cooperation between the two countries’ respective ministries and agencies, especially in the areas of politics, defense, security, maritime cooperation, trade and market access, investment, agriculture, food security, education, labour, tourism, natural resources, environment, disaster management and mitigation, and local government cooperation among others.

7. The Participants will foster discussion and consultation between their respective relevant units in the areas of consular affairs, international law, press and information, among others.

8. The Participants will promote the exchange of information, collaboration, communication, and cooperative activities between their respective overseas diplomatic and consular missions.

9. The Participants will foster cooperative activities between the two countries’ respective Friendship Associations.

10. The Participants will enhance exchanges and networking between and among their diplomats, especially young diplomats. They will advance cooperation between the Foreign Service Institute of the Philippines (FSI) and the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam (DAV) in the following areas: human resource development for the foreign services, cooperation and exchange of best practices in training activities and information sharing and joint research on issues of mutual interest.

PARAGRAPH 3

IMPLEMENTATION
1. The Participants will hold consultations as necessary in the implementation of this Memorandum of Understanding.

2. Both Participants will endeavor to take into account the financial and administrative arrangements for the cooperative activities covered by this Memorandum of Understanding, as warranted, in planning their respective budgets.

3. The Participants hereby pledge not to publish, disclose, transfer to any third party any documents and information provided by one Participant during the implementation of this Memorandum of Understanding, without written consent of the other Participant. This pledge will remain effective after the expiration of the Memorandum of Understanding.

PARAGRAPH 4

SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTE
Any difference or dispute between the Parties concerning the interpretation, implementation or application of any provisions of this Memorandum of Understanding shall be settled amicably through consultations and negotiations. The Participants will not resort to any third-party dispute settlement mechanism.

PARAGRAPH 5

ENTRY INTO FORCE, AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
1. This Memorandum of Understanding will take effect on the date of its signing, and will remain in force for a period of five years and be automatically renewed for consecutive periods of five years unless stated otherwise in writing by one Participant at least three months prior to the lapse of each five-year period.

2. This Memorandum of Understanding may be reviewed, amended, or modified at any time by mutual written consent of both Parties. Such amendments or modifications will take effect on the date one Parties receives the final agreement in writing by the other, and shall form an integral part of this Memorandum of Understanding.

3. This Memorandum of Understanding will not constitute rights and obligations of each Participant under international law.

4. The termination of this Memorandum of Understanding will not affect the validity and duration of any on-going programs or activities made prior to the termination of this Memorandum of Understanding.

Signed in Ha Noi on 8 July 2019 in duplicate in the English language.