RP, Vietnam ink pacts on environment, defense

The Philippine and Vietnam have signed four agreements aimed at enhancing the two countries' cooperation on education, defense, the environment, and maritime safety. A Malacañang statement released Wednesday said President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III and Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet witnessed the signing of the four memorandums of agreement during the first day of Aquino's state visit on Tuesday. "These agreements will improve the lives of the poor," Aquino said. Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) chairperson Patricia Licuanan signed the MOA on Academic Cooperation which contains proposals for programs of education cooperation and professional training that will be jointly considered by Vietnam and the Philippines. Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin signed an MOA on Defense Cooperation that aims to "create a framework for boosting bilateral cooperation between the defense agencies and armed forces of both countries." It covers cooperation in defense and military, equipment and technology cooperation, and defense industries. Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo, meanwhile, signed two agreements, one on Oil Spill Preparedness and Response and another on Search and Rescue at Sea. The first MOA aims for greater cooperation between the two countries in oil spill preparedness and response in terms of human resources, research and development, and information exchange, among others. The second MOA Tamayo signed aims to "enhance the efficiency of search and rescue operations" for ships, aircrafts, and persons in distress. After the signing, Aquino met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, where Aquino congratulated the Vietnamese leader for Hanoi's 1000th founding anniversary. Aquino's state visit will last until Wednesday. On Thursday until Saturday, he will attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit where he will push for a code of conduct on the South China Sea, where the Spratly Islands can be found. The islands' ownership are being claimed wholly or in part by the Philippines, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. — Jam Sisante/RSJ, GMANews.TV