India, Philippines agree to strengthen bilateral ties

The Commission, co-chaired by foreign ministers of the two countries, will meet on a bi-annual basis and is expected to strengthen and develop trade, economic, scientific, technological and other fields of bilateral cooperation.

India also extended a 15 million dollar Line of Credit to the Philippines for gems and jewelry cutting, polishing machinery and other equipment.

The two sides issued a Joint Declaration for Cooperation to Combat International Terrorism which opposes acts of terrorism in “all forms and manifestations” as a profound threat to international peace and security.

The joint declaration, signed by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his Philippines counterpart Alberto G Romulo, calls for “concerted action to protect and defend peace and security everywhere.”

The declaration envisages information sharing, cooperation amongst law enforcing agencies, cooperation in capacity building and in the prevention and suppression of the financing of terrorist acts.

A Joint Declaration on a framework of bilateral cooperation, issued on the occasion, seeks to establish a partnership between the two countries on the basis of cooperation, mutual trust and benefit.