00:01Today, I am pleased to announce the elevation of our bilateral relationship to a strategic
00:07partnership. We have tasked our foreign ministers to draw up a plan of action to pursue our shared
00:13commitment to work together in adapting to shifting global realities, addressing shared
00:19challenges, and building capacities for future-ready partnership. We recognize that robust defense
00:26and security cooperation underpins the strong momentum of our relations. Recent milestones in
00:33this pillar underscore the shared commitment of our countries in ensuring that our peoples continue
00:39to live in peaceful and secure regions. We translate these aspirations into tangible and operational
00:47commitments. We welcome the signing of the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement in November 2025 in
00:54Manila, the signing of the Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement, and the statement of intent on
01:00strengthening defense cooperation between the Philippines and Canada just two weeks ago in
01:05Ottawa. A strategic partnership is defined not just by deep and close relations, but also by the
01:12reliability of that partnership. To this end, we spoke about the importance of peace and stability
01:19in the Indo-Pacific and Canada's increasing engagement in the region under its Indo-Pacific
01:25strategy. I commend the IPS and emphasize the importance on building its initiatives both at the
01:34bilateral and multilateral levels. I also thank Canada for its Dark Vessel Detection Program, which was
01:41deployed to the Philippines under the strategy to aid the country in combating illegal, unreported,
01:47and unregulated fishing and unregulated fishing and increased maritime domain awareness. I conveyed keen
01:53interest in the continuation of the DVD program in Philippine waters. As the Philippines celebrates the
02:0110th anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal Award on the South China Sea, I thank Canada for its vocal and
02:11consistent support for a rules-based order in the South China Sea under the United Nations Convention
02:17on the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS, and in upholding the Arbitral Award as final and legally binding.
02:25Tomorrow, I will meet with several business leaders and key players in the Canadian mining,
02:32ITBPM, and energy sectors. Canadian businesses, including those in said sectors, have been largely
02:39successful in the Philippines. I look forward to discussing more opportunities for deeper commercial ties
02:45between our two countries. Prime Minister Kanye and I reaffirmed our commitment to conclude the negotiations
02:52for a bilateral free trade agreement this year, as we also negotiate the ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement.
03:00We renewed our commitment to increase our bilateral trade, stand against economic coercion,
03:06and build a resilient supply chain. We are pleased to witness the signing of the Joint Declaration of Intent
03:13on Energy and Natural Resources Cooperation.
03:16Before I return home, I will meet with the Filipino community.
03:21I am glad to see and hear from our Canadian friends that the one million strong Filipinos in Canada
03:27are valued and respected for their contributions to the Canadian society,
03:32the economy, the economy, and government. They serve as a heart and soul of the strategic partnership
03:38between the Philippines and of Canada.
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