Declaration on Establishment of a Strategic Partnership between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the Republic of India

MANILA 05 August 2025 - At the invitation of the Prime Minister of India, H.E. Shri Narendra Modi, the President of the Republic of the Philippines, H.E. Mr. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. paid a State Visit to India on 4-8 August 2025. President Marcos was accompanied by the First Lady, Mme. Louise Araneta Marcos and a high-level official delegation including several Cabinet Ministers of the Philippines and a high-level business delegation.

2.  On 5 August 2025, President Marcos was accorded a ceremonial reception at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan and he visited Raj Ghat to pay floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi. This was followed by bilateral talks between President Marcos and Prime Minister Modi. Thereafter, the leaders witnessed the exchange of bilateral documents. President Marcos attended the luncheon hosted by Prime Minister Modi. Engagements of President Marcos include a call on the President of India, H.E. Smt. Droupadi Murmu, followed by a banquet hosted in his honor. External Affairs Minister of India, Dr. S. Jaishankar called on President Marcos. President Marcos would also be visiting Bengaluru.

3.  President Marcos and Prime Minister Modi,

(a) CELEBRATING the seventy-fifth anniversary of the establishment of Philippines-India diplomatic relations;

(b) ACKNOWLEDGING the long-standing friendship between the Philippines and India based on mutual respect, trust, civilisational contacts, shared values and culture;

(c) DRAWING upon their rich and fruitful tradition of cooperation in various fields since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1949;

(d) EMPHASIZING the fundamental importance of the Treaty of Friendship signed on 11 July 1952, the Memorandum of Understanding on Policy Consultation Talks signed on 28 November 2000, the Agreement on the Establishment of a Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation signed on 5 October 2007, and the Declaration on the Framework of Bilateral Cooperation signed on 5 October 2007 between the two countries;

(e) PROCEEDING from a desire to further strengthen the historical ties between the two countries;

(f)  CONVINCED that the further comprehensive development of their bilateral ties would promote progress and prosperity in both countries and the region as a whole;

(g) SEEKING to impart a qualitative and strategic new dimension and long-term commitment to the bilateral partnership and to actively develop cooperation in political, defence and security, the maritime domain, science and technology, climate change, space cooperation, trade and investment, industry collaboration, connectivity, health and pharmaceuticals, agriculture, digital technologies, emerging technologies, development cooperation, culture, creative industries, tourism, people-to-people exchanges and other fields in the years ahead;

(h) REAFFIRMING their shared interest in a free, open, transparent, rules-based, inclusive, prosperous and resilient Indo-Pacific region and reiterating their strong support for ASEAN Centrality;

Hereby DECLARE:

4.  The establishment of a Strategic Partnership between the Philippines and India;

5.  The Strategic Partnership marks a new chapter towards realising the full potential for bilateral, regional and international cooperation between the two countries;

6.  The Strategic Partnership is based on a mutual commitment to strengthen bilateral relations for the continuing peace, stability and prosperity of the two countries and the broader region, and serves as a foundation for the two countries to chart a future-oriented mutually-beneficial cooperation;

7.  The Philippines-India Strategic Partnership is guided by the Plan of Action (2025-2029) adopted by the two countries on 5 August 2025;

8.  With the objective of imparting greater dynamism to the Philippines-India partnership, the two leaders agreed to the following:

9. (a)      POLITICAL COOPERATION

• Strengthening political engagement through regular high-level exchanges and dialogue on bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral issues of mutual interest, including through the convening of the Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC), Policy Consultation Talks and Strategic Dialogue;

• Fostering greater cooperation across various sectors and levels, through effective operationalisation of existing Agreements and MoUs and early finalization of Agreements and MoUs under negotiation;

• Intensifying dialogue through the various bilateral institutional mechanisms, including the Joint Working Groups (JWGs) on Trade and Investment, Counter-terrorism, Tourism, Health and Medicine, Agriculture and Financial Technology;

• Encouraging interaction between the legislatures of the two countries, particularly exchanges between young leaders of both countries, to further strengthen mutual understanding;

(b) DEFENCE, SECURITY AND MARITIME COOPERATION

• Acknowledging the progress made under the Agreement on Defence Cooperation signed between the Philippines and India on 4 February 2006;

• Facilitating the regular convening of institutional mechanisms including the Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) and Joint Defence Industry and Logistics Committee (JDILC) for dialogue on defence cooperation, with emphasis on defence industrial collaboration, defence technology, research, training, exchanges and capacity building;

• Institutionalising military training activities between the two countries and Service-to-Service interactions, with increased focus on tri-service cooperation;

• Recognizing the vital role of the seas and oceans in achieving the development needs of the two countries, rights and freedoms as coastal states, developing economies, and maritime nations of the Indo-Pacific region;

• Institutionalizing engagements on maritime issues and commending the deepening maritime cooperation between the Philippines and India, including by the annual Philippines-India Maritime Dialogue which was first held in Manila on 11-13 December 2024, and looking forward to India’s hosting of the next dialogue as a way to maintain the positive momentum of maritime engagement;

• Exchanging views on global and regional maritime challenges, sharing best practices on deepening maritime cooperation, and promoting coordination and expertise between maritime authorities and law enforcement agencies and marine science and research institutions on the peaceful, sustainable and equitable use of the oceans, seas, and marine resources;

• Sharing of best practices, intelligence, technical support, subject matter expert (SME) exchanges, workshops and industrial assistance through and between appropriate agencies of both Governments; 

• Enhancing cooperation in the area of maritime security including through collaborative efforts for enhanced maritime domain awareness (MDA), cooperation in ship-building, maritime connectivity, coastal surveillance, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), pollution control and search and rescue (SAR) between Navies and Coast Guards;

• Collaborating and cooperating in co-development and co-production of defence equipment, to achieve the goal of self-reliance in defence production, and encouraging investments and joint initiatives in the establishment of defence R&D, and supply chain ecosystem;

• Expanding cooperation in the field of hydrography, including improvement of hydrographic infrastructure and joint oceanographic research surveys to ensure safe and efficient navigation contributing to the overall maritime security of the region;

• Striving for participation in multilateral exercises including in the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise and Exercise MILAN and the Philippines’ Maritime Cooperative Activities (MCAs);

• Fostering greater security cooperation through regular dialogues, engagements and exchanges of best practice on UN peacekeeping operations (PKO), supply chain management, military medicine, global and regional security environment, traditional and non-traditional security concerns such as maritime security, and cyber security and critical technology issues, as well as the protection of critical information infrastructure, and security-related concerns on economic matters;

• Strengthening joint efforts, including through regular convening of the Joint Working Group on Counter-terrorism, in (i) combatting terrorism, violent extremism, radicalization, transnational organised crimes including trafficking in narcotics and weapons, human trafficking, cyber-crimes, cyber-threats from new and emerging technologies, misuse of the internet for terrorism purposes, terror financing, international economic crimes, proliferation financing, money laundering; (ii) facilitating the sharing of information and best practices, capacity building, co-operation in multilateral fora on counter terrorism; and  (iii) promoting zero tolerance towards terrorism;

• Deepening cooperation in cyber domain, including through policy dialogue, capacity building, sharing of best practices and exchanges of expertise on digital public infrastructure, financial technology, digital economy, Artificial Intelligence, digital forensics and Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) cooperation, protection of critical information infrastructure, and capacity building on digital skills;

 (c)    ECONOMIC, TRADE AND INVESTMENT COOPERATION

• Promoting business and commercial linkages as a key driver of the Philippines-India partnership and to this end, working towards strengthening bilateral trade and investment cooperation, and unlocking greater economic opportunities;

• Welcoming the steady increase in bilateral trade, which reached approximately US$ 3.3 billion in 2024-25 and sustaining such growth, leveraging complementarities and expanding the basket of goods and services traded;

• Strive for the expeditious conclusion of the negotiations of the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between the Philippines and India for further promotion of mutual trade. Both sides will promote further collaboration to facilitate two-way investments;

• Convening regular meetings and exchanges between the senior officials from respective counterpart ministries on both sides, including under existing mechanisms, to promote trade and investment, facilitate early resolution of market access issues, foster greater integration with global supply chains and lay a robust foundation for new areas of collaboration, especially in renewable energy, critical minerals, electric vehicles, digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence, robotics, ICT, biotechnology, creative industry and startups, construction and infrastructure, iron and steel, shipbuilding and ship repair, agriculture, and tourism;

• Fostering partnerships in infrastructure development and in implementation of connectivity and transport projects;

• Facilitating Joint Customs Cooperation Committee meetings for improved market facilitation through simplified customs procedures;

• Encouraging businesses and industry representatives to explore opportunities offered by both countries through the exchange of business delegations, greater B2B contacts, trade fairs and business conclaves, among others;

• Promoting greater cooperation and coordination between Governments of the two countries as well as among their international and financial bodies for enhancing international and regional trade;

• Expediting the review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) towards making it more effective, user-friendly, simple and trade facilitative for businesses;

• Enhancing collaboration in healthcare and pharmaceuticals sectors, in accordance with relevant laws and regulations in each country, to support better health outcomes and reinforce health systems through capacity building, knowledge sharing, and joint research initiatives;

• Enhancing cooperation in the field of Ayurveda and Traditional Medicine, including through training and exchange of experts;

• Supporting the Philippines’ local developmental goals through the implementation of Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) under the Indian grant assistance.

(d) SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION

• Enhancing Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) cooperation through joint research and development, exchange of STI information and scientists, and capacity building activities in mutually agreed priority areas, including under the Programme of Cooperation in the Fields of Science and Technology for the period 2025-28 between the Philippine Department of Science and Technology and the Indian Department of Science and Technology;

• Fostering cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, including space science and technology applications, and welcoming the role of academia, research and development, industry, and innovation;

• Fostering cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy;

• Strengthening cooperation in the field of Information and Communication Technology including information sharing and exchange of best practices on Edu-tech and Med-tech;

• Expanding cooperation in the field of agriculture, including in rice production, agri-research and strengthening partnership in the development of sustainable fishing and aquaculture;

(e)   CONNECTIVITY

• Enhancing all modes of connectivity between the Philippines and India, including physical, digital and financial linkages;

• Strengthening collaboration in e-governance financial inclusion, and Digital Public Infrastructure, while ensuring cybersecurity and privacy considerations;

• Enhancing regional maritime connectivity, including through greater port-to-port connections;

• Working towards enhanced air connectivity between the countries, through establishment of direct air connectivity. In this regard, both leaders welcomed the scheduled direct flights between the two capitals in the coming months;

(f)   CONSULAR COOPERATION

• Facilitating greater people-to-people exchanges. In this regard, the two leaders welcomed the grant of visa-free privileges to Indian tourists by the Philippines, and the extension of gratis e-tourist visa for Filipino nationals by India;

• Regular convening of the Joint Consular Consultation Meeting;

(g) MUTUAL LEGAL AND JUDICIAL COOPERATION

• Welcoming the conclusion of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty on Criminal Matters and the Treaty on Transfer of Sentenced Persons;

(h) CULTURE, TOURISM AND PEOPLE TO PEOPLE EXCHANGES

• Further strengthening people-to-people ties and cultural connections, exchanges and collaborations between the two countries through enhanced interactions, including under the expanded Cultural Exchange Programme;

• Fostering greater cultural exchange through participation in scholarship courses offered by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations;

• Encouraging exchanges and dialogue between tourist organisations, tourism professionals and the hospitality sector in both countries, in addition to the regular convening of the Joint Working Group on Tourism;

• Facilitating student and media exchanges and promote engagements between think tanks and academic institutions;

• Enhancing Philippines-India training and capacity building cooperation, including under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme;

(i)    REGIONAL, MULTILATERAL AND INTERNATIONAL

• Cooperating closely in multilateral and regional forums, including in the United Nations and its specialized agencies, on global issues of mutual concern and interest, such as rule of law in the global commons, counter-terrorism, climate change and sustainable development. Actively supporting the reform and expansion of the United Nations Security Council, both in permanent and non-permanent categories of membership, through text-based negotiations;

• Reaffirming shared commitment to a free, open, transparent, and rules-based trading system, both countries underscored the need to work together under bilateral, regional, and multilateral platforms to strengthen supply chains, promote trade facilitation, and ensure that trade contributes to their economic development;

• Calling for concerted global efforts to address climate change based on available science and best available technologies, through global initiatives like the International Solar Alliance, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, the Global-Biofuels Alliance, and Mission-Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE);

• Exploring cooperation under the aegis of the Board of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, which is headquartered in the Philippines;

• Commending conservation efforts like through the International Big Cat Alliance; 

• Reaffirming full respect and adherence to international law, particularly on the rights and obligations of States under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and its dispute settlement mechanisms, including on the geographic and substantive limits of marine entitlements, the duty to protect and preserve the marine environment, as well as reaffirming the freedom of navigation and overflight, and the importance of unimpeded commerce based on the principles of international law, as reflected notably in UNCLOS;

• Underscoring that the final and binding 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea is a significant milestone and the basis for resolving disputes in accordance with international law;

• Expressing concern for the situation in the South China Sea particularly with regard to coercive and aggressive actions that impact on regional peace and stability, and calling on relevant parties to exercise self- restraint and commit to peaceful and constructive means to resolve and manage disputes;  

• Supporting the deepening expansion of engagement and cooperation under the ASEAN framework, including through regular summit-level interactions, to jointly strengthen the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The Philippines appreciated India’s continued commitment to ASEAN Centrality and active participation and cooperation in ASEAN-led mechanisms in the evolving regional architecture;

• Exploring cooperation under the ASEAN-India Joint Statement on Cooperation on the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) for peace, stability and prosperity in the region, through enhanced cooperation between the AOIP and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative;

• Continuing cooperation in multilateral forums on matters pertaining to the Global South, including through the Voice of the Global South Summit (VOGSS). In this regard, India appreciated the active participation of the Philippines in all three VOGSS convened to date;

10. The two countries express their determination to forge ahead in this strategic partnership, true to the fundamental and lasting spirit of the Treaty of Friendship between the Government of the Philippines and the Government of India of 11 July 1952.

Done in duplicate at New Delhi, this 5th day of  August 2025 in English language.