Danang, Vietnam – Vietnam, the major source of rice imports by the Philippines, has pledged to support the rehabilitation of war-ravaged Marawi City and initially donated 4,000 bags of rice.
Vietnam President Tran Dai Quang made the commitment during the Bilateral Talks with the Philippine delegation to the 25th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum on Thursday, Nov. 9.
President Rody Duterte thanked the Vietnamese President and pledged to work on the rescue of Vietnamese sailors abducted by the Abu Sayyaf in the Southern Philippines.
(By sheer coincidence, Philippine troops succeeded in rescuing the abducted Vietnamese nationals a day after the Bilateral Talks.)
President Duterte also promised to release Vietnamese fishermen who were caught by the Philippine Navy poaching in the country’s fishing grounds.
Two of the fishermen died during the chase at sea.
President Quang also assured President Duterte of his country’s support in its agricultural development initiatives.
He also said that Vietnam remains committed to supply the Philippines rice requirements.
The Philippines imports at least 5% of its rice needs from Vietnam and Thailand.
The Bilateral Talks with Vietnam was one of the four engagements of President Duterte in the sidelines of the 25th APEC in Vietnam.
The three others were with Papua New Guinea, Russia and China.
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