THE Philippines and India have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade, defense, and education.
India's Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said the commitment was sealed during the bilateral meeting between President Rodrigo Duterte and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held on Wednesday, January 24, in New Delhi, India.
"Adding momentum to the close relationship (between the Philippines and India)," Kumar said in a Twitter post on Wednesday. "Trade and investment, defence and security, education, and people-to-people cooperation were discussed (during the bilateral meeting between Duterte and Modi)."
In a press statement released Thursday, January 25, India's Ministry of External Affairs further said that both leaders took a recap on the progressing bilateral relations improved global and regional situation since they met in Manila in November 2017.
Duterte and Modi also reportedly made a deal on bolstering cooperation in infrastructure development.
"They agreed that under India's Act East Policy and the Philippines' Build-Build-Build Programme, there are several areas for cooperation between private sectors of the two countries," the India's Ministry of External Affairs said.
MalacaƱang, in a separate statement on Thursday, said Duterte and Modi also witnessed the ceremonial exchange of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for various investments.
"The two leaders discussed how the Philippines and India could further enhance trade and economic relations," it said.
The MOU was signed by the Philippines' Board of Investments and Invest India.
Modi, on his Twitter account, said he was "delighted" to meet Duterte.
"The vigour and momentum in India-Philippines ties augur well for our nations and the Indo-Pacific region," he said. (SunStar Philippines)