PH, ROK Agree to Strengthen Maritime Cooperation at Inaugural Maritime Dialogue
(Photo from the ROK Embassy in Manila)
BUSAN 22 September 2022 — The Philippines and the Republic of Korea (ROK) agreed to strengthen maritime cooperation and to address shared challenges and maritime concerns at their inaugural Maritime Dialogue held on 21 September 2022 in Busan, ROK.
Assistant Secretary for Maritime and Ocean Affairs Maria Angela A. Ponce and Ambassador of the Philippines to the ROK Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-de Vega co-led the Philippine delegation while Director General for ASEAN and Southeast Asian Affairs Bureau Cecilia Chung of the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs headed the ROK delegation.
In her opening remarks, Assistant Secretary Ponce said that this new mechanism for engagement in the maritime sphere “will further deepen and broaden the already dynamic cooperation and support between our two countries.”
The Philippines and the ROK discussed working together in the fields of maritime domain awareness, marine environment protection, and ocean economy. They also agreed to exchange best practices, enhance capacity-building programs, including in defense and maritime law enforcement, and explore partnerships on technology transfer in maritime transport and maritime education.
Both countries also emphasized the importance of UNCLOS as the legal framework for all activities at sea, particularly in upholding the freedom of navigation and overflight, as well as the peaceful uses of the sea and peaceful resolution of disputes.
The Philippines and the ROK committed to sustain this new mechanism, especially in the context of the 75th Anniversary of PH-ROK relations. The Philippines, likewise, agreed to host the second Dialogue in Manila next year.
The inaugural Maritime Dialogue was held at the margins of the 7th International Marine Debris Conference and the 2022 Korea Maritime Week. END
Assistant Secretary for Maritime and Ocean Affairs Maria Angela A. Ponce and Philippine Ambassador to the ROK Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-de Vega, lead the Philippine Delegation to the inaugural Maritime Dialogue. The delegation included Assistant Director General David Nye - National Security Council, and officials from the Department of National Defense and the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. In this photo, they are joined by their ROK counterparts.