[1/4] Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., claps beside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, after signing ceremonies at the Malacanang Presidential Palace in Manila, Philippines, July 31, 2023.Aaron Favila/POOL via REUTERSMANILA, July 31 (Reuters) - The European Union is ready to strengthen cooperation with the Philippines on maritime security, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday, as she stressed the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
She was speaking after a meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Manila where the two leaders discussed a range of issues from security and trade to climate change.
"We are ready to strengthen the cooperation with the Philippines on maritime security in the region by sharing information, conducting threat assessment and building the capacity of your coast guard," she said in a joint press conference with Marcos.
Von der Leyen on Monday reaffirmed the EU's support for a 2016 international arbitration ruling that invalidated Beijing's expansive claims, saying the ruling is legally binding and provides the basis for resolving disputes peacefully.
Von der Leyen also said the European Union will support the Philippines' fight against climate change, which is a priority for Marcos as he pushes to increase renewables in the country's power mix to 35% by 2030.
Persons:
Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Ursula von der Leyen, Aaron Favila, Marcos, Von der Leyen, Karen Lema, Neil Jerome Morales, Kanupriya Kapoor
Organizations:
Philippine, European, REUTERS, European Union, Thomson
Locations:
Manila, Philippines, REUTERS MANILA, The Philippines, United States, China, South China, European