TUMAAS na sa strategic partnership ang relasyon ng Pilipinas at South Korea dahil sa state visit sa Pilipinas ni President Yoon Suk Yeol para sa pakikipag- pulong kay Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Sa bilateral meeting sa Malakanyang ng dalawang lider, sinabi ni Pangulong Marcos na sa patuloy na paglawak ng relasyon ng dalawang bansa, nananatiling masigla ang kanilang kooperasyon sa depensa, seguridad, maritime cooperation, kalakalan at people-to-people exchanges.

Sinabi pa ni Pangulong Marcos na sa harap ng mas komplikadong geopolitical environment, kailangang magtulungan upang makamit ang kasaganahan at maitaguyod ang rules-based order alinsunod sa international law.

“As we chart the future direction of our relations, the way forward is clear. The time has come for us to elevate the ties between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea to a strategic relationship,” pahayag ni Pangulong Marcos.

“This idea must be as concrete as the foundation from which our bilateral relationships stand.

“As the geopolitical environment is only becoming more complex, we must work together to achieve prosperity for our people and to promote a rules-based order governed by international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS and the binding 2016 Arbitral Award,” dagdag ni Pangulong Marcos.

Umaasa naman ang South Korean leader na magsisilbing oportunidad ang kanyang pag-bisita upang mapaigting pa ang kooperasyon sa kalakalan, ekonomiya at gayundin sa seguridad, digital technology at enerhiya.

“I look forward to a fruitful discussion on ways to take great strides in our bilateral cooperations today,” pahayag ni Pangulong Marcos.