PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR H.E. MA. THERESA DIZON-DE VEGA PRESENTS HER CREDENTIALS TO REPUBLIC OF KOREA PRESIDENT H.E. MOON JAE IN

In a conversation between President Moon Jae In and the Ambassadors held after the ceremony, Ambassador De Vega recalled that the robust relations between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea is anchored on shared sacrifices during the Korean War and an abiding mutual commitment to peace and development. She also noted that PH-ROK relations are ever reflective of both countries' deep and historic ties, as evidenced by our cooperation over a wide range of issues in the political, defense, economic, cultural, and people-to-people spheres.

Ambassador De Vega also reaffirmed the Philippines' commitment to work with the Republic of Korea in the UN, ASEAN, other multilateral fora, and President Moon Jae-in's flagship foreign policy initiative, the New Southern Policy Plus. Ambassador De Vega also expressed continued Philippine commitment to an active defense cooperation and hoped that the Philippines and the ROK can conclude its free trade agreement before the end of 2021 to bolster economic resurgence. The Philippines also conveyed its commitment to more engaged pandemic cooperation, including on vaccines, and mobility especially the movement of essential workers, business people, students, and others, and the resumption of two-way travel to help buoy the economic recovery of both countries.

For his part, President Moon assured Ambassadors present that the ROK government will do its best to achieve complete denuclearization and the establishment of lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and diplomacy and asked for active support for the peace process on the Korean Peninsula. He also looked forward to various achievements, such as improving bilateral relations, while the Ambassadors are serving in Korea.