JOINT DECLARATION ON THE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA

AND THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

PREAMBULAR STATEMENT

1. Since the formal establishment of bilateral ties on 03 March 1949, in which the Republic of the Philippines (PHL) became the first Southeast Asian nation to recognize and inaugurate diplomatic relations with the Republic of Korea (ROK), bilateral ties between the two countries have flourished and evolved comprehensively, anchored on mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation and nurtured by the shared principles and aspirations for freedom, peace, and prosperity.

2. The close and vibrant relations between the ROK and the PHL are underpinned by our shared sacrifice for democracy, sovereignty, and freedom and strong bonds of friendship from having stood shoulder-to-shoulder during the 1950-1953 Korean War.

3. Recognizing the ever-deepening relations between them and affirming their commitment to advance concrete cooperation across the full spectrum of their historic and dynamic friendship, the two countries have agreed to elevate their bilateral relations to a STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP.

I. POLITICAL RELATIONS

4. The Strategic Partnership will build upon and further deepen political engagements between the two governments through various mechanisms, high-level visits, regular dialogues across many areas of mutual interest, and exchanges at all levels and channels.

5. Both sides will explore the possibility of deeper dialogue and new consultation mechanisms to formulate concrete action plans and implement initiatives under the Strategic Partnership, with the aim of expanding cooperation in the areas of: tourism, space cooperation, 5G technology, cyber security, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, digital technology, creative industries, and energy including nuclear energy technology, infrastructure, smart manufacturing, smart agriculture, climate change mitigation and adaptation, blue economy, oceanography, universal health care, health systems, health security, disease control and prevention, vaccine technology and development, digital health and other innovation in health.

II. DEFENSE AND SECURITY COOPERATION

6. Sharing common interests for peace and security in the region, the ROK and the PHL are committed to conduct mutually beneficial security and defense engagements and participate in bilateral and multilateral military exercises, education, and training to address traditional and non-traditional security issues through the implementation of existing defense cooperation agreements.

7. Recognizing the rapidly evolving regional and global security environment, the ROK and the PHL agreed to promote conflict prevention and resolution, and preventive diplomacy and conflict management. They will continue the close engagement, dialogue, and exchanges between their respective defense establishments and build on the progress made in maritime security, including maritime law enforcement capability and capacity enhancement, to further strengthen the readiness of their respective defense posture to respond to security threats.

8. Closer cooperation between defense industries and logistical acquisition symbolizes mutual trust between the two countries. The ROK’s support in this area is essential to the Modernization Program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Building on the progress made thus far, the two countries will continue to deepen their special partnership in this area.

9. The two countries will further pursue engagements on veterans matters in line with the 2022 Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Department of National Defense and the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and other related initiatives.

III. ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION

TRADE AND INVESTMENT COOPERATION

10. The ROK and the PHL noted with satisfaction the dynamic and mutually beneficial economic partnership between their countries. Recognizing the importance of sustaining a strategic and future-oriented bilateral economic partnership, the two countries will further expand trade and investment relations under the ROK-PHL Free Trade Agreement, as well as enhance economic engagement in untapped and emerging areas of cooperation.

11. With the objective of creating more opportunities for inclusive and sustainable economic growth and collaboration, the two countries will actively explore ways to encourage trade in their respective priority areas and promote strategic and sustainable investment across multiple industries and sectors of interest. Recognizing their competitive advantages and capacities, both countries will target and pursue strategic opportunities for complementation in manufacturing and critical raw materials processing, innovation, digital transformation, connectivity, space economy, space technology utilization, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and a just transition to clean energy, including through related mechanisms such as the Joint Commission on Economic and Trade Cooperation.

12. Both countries agreed to accelerate inclusive digital transformation and economy; increase research and development in the establishment of smart cities, smart manufacturing and food processing, smart farming and use of digital technologies in food processing, agricultural mechanization and modernization, development of low carbon transport solutions including electric vehicle production, development of space infrastructure, facilitation of technology convergence in the creative sector, cooperation in areas related to renewable energy, universal and affordable 5G access, and the Fourth Industrial Revolution to strengthen the global competitiveness of the ROK and the PHL in key industries; and enhance bilateral collaboration in the digital upskilling of workers and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and in nurturing innovation and startups.

13. Both countries recognize that investment is crucial to technology transfer, job creation and stimulation of economic growth. The two countries will strive to create an enabling environment conducive to facilitating trade and attracting strategic and sustainable foreign investments.

14. Both countries support an open, inclusive, and rules-based multilateral trading system as embodied in the World Trade Organization and to this end, welcomed the significant benefits of regional and multilateral economic agreements and mechanisms including the ASEAN-Korea FTA and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership in exploring collaboration opportunities on cross-border commerce and e-commerce, and establishing a business environment conducive to enhancing regional trade and investment particularly for MSMEs.

15. Acknowledging the importance of financial cooperation within the ASEAN+3 region, both countries reaffirmed the commitment to strengthening the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization as a regional financial safety net.

16. Recognizing the importance of deepening cooperation on economic security and sustainable and resilient supply chains, the two countries agreed to cooperate to improve infrastructure and strengthen cooperation in the supply chain of critical raw materials. Both countries agreed to work together including by building capacities on the development, transfer, and utilization of newly-developed research and development outputs for innovation and sustainable processing of critical raw materials.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY COOPERATION

17. Recognizing that climate change and its adverse effects are a common concern of humankind that requires urgent and collective action, both sides agreed to expedite the conclusion of the ongoing bilateral agreement for cooperation on climate change, with a particular focus on cooperation under Article 6.2¹⁾ of the Paris Agreement. Emphasizing the importance of clean energy as vital and reliable sources of carbon-free electricity and an integral element of enhancing energy security, the two countries will explore cooperation in developing various energy projects and initiatives. The PHL supports the ROK’s Carbon Free Energy initiative, feasibility study on the rehabilitation of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, promotion of renewable energy sources, hydrogen development, and carbon capture, utilization, and storage in an environmentally sound manner. All initiatives will incorporate comprehensive community engagement and thorough environmental impact assessments to ensure sustainable and inclusive development.

1)“Parties shall, where engaging on a voluntary basis in cooperative approaches that involve the use of internationally transferred mitigation outcomes towards nationally determined contributions, promote sustainable development and ensure environmental integrity and transparency, including in governance, and shall apply robust accounting to ensure, inter alia, the avoidance of double counting, consistent with guidance adopted by the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to this Agreement”

DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION

18. Recognizing the significant contribution by the ROK over the years to the efforts of the PHL to achieve sustainable and inclusive economic growth, the two countries will continue to deepen bilateral development cooperation including infrastructure development, technical assistance, capacity building, and humanitarian assistance in multiple sectors including, but not limited to, digital transformation and connectivity; agriculture, forestry, and fisheries; food security and water security; climate change mitigation and adaptation; disaster preparedness and response; and transportation connectivity; public health; and education and skill training, among others.

19. Both countries will develop mutually key water management techniques through multidisciplinary studies supported by their institutes and organizations. These collaborations will focus on areas such as water resources and environmental management, including integrated water management (IWRM), dam modernization and rehabilitation, groundwater monitoring and development, water supply and sewage treatment systems, ICT-based technology, water policy and economics, SOC safety, renewable energy (hydropower and solar, such as floating photovoltaic system), and the development of smart water cities.

20. Acknowledging the significant development contributed through the increase in the ROK’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) for 2022-2026, the two countries will continue to expand the EDCF cooperation in various areas, to include transportation, disaster risk management, water supply, sanitation, and large-scale infrastructure, among others.

21. Both countries, recognizing the importance of knowledge cooperation, agreed to collaborate through the Economic Innovation Partnership Program. This partnership aims to provide policy and technical advisory support for the PHL government's digital transformation initiatives.

22. Both countries will continue to hold a biannual ‘Integrated ODA Policy Dialogue’ as a primary coordination mechanism to explore and discuss policies, programmes, and projects related to development cooperation between the ROK and the PHL in the aforementioned areas and sectors.

MARITIME COOPERATION

23. The two sides emphasize the universal and unified character of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out, and its strategic importance as the basis for national, regional, and global action and cooperation in the marine sector, and that its integrity needs to be maintained.

24. Reaffirming the importance of maintaining regional maritime safety and security, the two countries will continue to strengthen and promote maritime cooperation, encompassing maritime security and law enforcement, ocean and blue economy, fisheries resource management and capacity building, maritime domain awareness, and marine environment protection and conservation, through the regular convening of cooperation mechanisms including the ROK-PHL Maritime Dialogue and the Joint Fisheries Committee.

25. Both countries reaffirm the duty of States to cooperate to preserve and protect the marine environment under the UNCLOS and international law and to pursue measures to address any imminent or grave danger or damage to biodiversity including in the marine environment under the Convention on Biological Diversity. Further, both countries intend to continue promoting the early ratification, entry into force and effective implementation of the BBNJ Agreement under the UNCLOS.

IV. PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE EXCHANGES AND SOCIO-CULTURAL COOPERATION

26. Strong people-to-people exchanges are a meaningful anchor of our bilateral relations. The two countries will foster even greater appreciation, understanding, and interaction among their peoples through continued, safe, and secure travels and tourism flows, increased cooperation in educational and human resource development, including technical and vocational education training and the upskilling of human resources for the digital age, and other exchanges at the national and local levels including sisterhood/twinning agreements among local government units, subject to laws, rules, and domestic regulations. Both countries will also consider cooperation on the welfare of the vulnerable sectors, such as but not limited to women and girls, youth, the differently abled, the indigenous peoples, and local communities.

27. Both countries recognized the invaluable contribution of the Korean and Filipino diaspora in enriching cultural diversity and deepening mutual understanding between their societies, as well as the continued contribution of Filipino workers deployed to the ROK under the Employment Permit System(EPS). The two countries will explore ways to further improve the EPS program, taking into account the importance of protecting worker’s rights and welfare and emerging employment sectors and their overall labor relations.

28. Noting the sizable presence of their respective nationals and multicultural families in each other’s jurisdictions, the two countries have committed themselves to working more closely and more effectively to ensure the safety, protection, and well-being of their nationals in both countries at all times.

29. Both countries value the development of human capital as an integral part of nation-building and commit to sharing expertise and opportunities for further research, training and education in advanced science & technology fields including through partnerships under the ROK-PHL Joint Science and Technology Committee Meeting.

30. Mindful of the role of culture and the arts as a catalyst for sustainable social and economic development, both countries agreed to share local and indigenous knowledge and best practices in crafting innovative cultural policies and promoting creative industries, including digital creative industries, and to encourage collaboration between their cultural agencies and experts pursuant to the 1970 Cultural Agreement.

31. In fostering exchanges in higher education between the two countries, the Commission on Higher Education and the National Information Center in Korea will collaborate to establish a robust mechanism to harmonize our higher education spaces, laying the groundwork for enhanced recognition of qualifications.

V. REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

32. Fully aware of the multifaceted trends and impacts of globalization, the two countries agreed to further elevate cooperation in addressing regional and global challenges while upholding diplomacy, dialogue, and the rule of law.

33. Recognizing the significance of multilateralism, the two countries fully and strongly reaffirmed their commitment to cooperate in the United Nations and other international and multilateral organizations. Both countries reaffirm the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 which recognizes the central role of women as change agents in the maintenance of peace and security, and evince their strong political will to promote gender equality in peace and security processes.

34. Both countries agree to strengthen cooperation in addressing emerging technologies including in space, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence, and their impacts on international peace and security, including through coordination in the multilateral sphere.

35. The two countries underscored their mutual support for the complete denuclearization of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions. The two countries condemned the recent unprecedented surge in the DPRK’s ballistic missile launches and its rhetoric on the possible use of nuclear weapons, and called on the DPRK to fully comply with its obligations under all relevant UN Security Council resolutions. Reaffirming both countries’ unwavering commitment to nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament and acknowledging the interconnectedness of the region, the ROK and the PHL highlighted the importance of sustained and peaceful dialogue in realizing lasting peace and stability on a denuclearized Korean Peninsula. The PHL reaffirms strong and steadfast support for the ROK position for lasting peace, security and stability in a denuclearized Korean Peninsula. The PHL also welcomes ROK’s efforts to promote peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula. The “Audacious Initiative” and the “August 15 Unification Doctrine” are important efforts in this regard. Both countries also emphasized the importance of addressing issues of human rights and humanitarian concerns of the international community, including the immediate resolution of the issues of abductees, detainees, and unrepatriated prisoners of war.

36. The ROK reiterated its full support for ASEAN Centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, and its commitment to reinforce cooperation within ASEAN-led mechanisms, including the ASEAN Plus One, ASEAN Plus Three, East Asia Summit, ASEAN Regional Forum, and ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus, among others. The PHL welcomed the ROK’s renewed commitment to strengthen the ASEAN-ROK partnership through mutually-beneficial and future-oriented cooperation under the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative. Both countries welcome an enhanced ASEAN-ROK cooperation with a view to elevating the ASEAN-ROK relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2024. Both sides welcomed the ROK’s continued support for promoting sub-regional cooperation; e.g., the establishment of the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area Republic of Korea Cooperation Fund in October 2021 and its pledge to double its annual contribution by 2027. Both sides reiterated their support for narrowing the development gap and fostering equitable and sustainable development in the sub-region.

37. Both countries reaffirmed the importance of respect for the rule of law, maritime security and safety, and the peaceful resolution of disputes. Both countries share concerns about actions in the South China Sea that are inconsistent with the rules-based international order, which undermines peace and prosperity. Recalling the publicly announced positions of both countries, the two countries oppose militarization of reclaimed features, the dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels, and coercive activities. Marking the 8th anniversary of the July 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, which sets out the legal basis for the peaceful resolution of maritime disputes between the parties to that proceeding, they reiterated their firm respect and due regard to the respective rights, jurisdictions, duties and freedoms of States, including freedom of navigation and overflight, in line with UNCLOS.

38. This Joint Declaration serves as guidance in achieving the goals and aspirations of the ROK and the PHL Strategic Partnership.