MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. expressed gratitude to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Vietnam Monday, saying their presence in the southeast Asian country manifests the strong Philippine-Viet Nam relations.

“Isang patunay ng malapit na ugnayan ng ating dalawang bansa ay ang tinatawag nating people-to-people connections. At kayo, ang mga Pilipino na nandito sa Vietnam, ang patunay kung gaano kalapit ang ating mga bansa,” President Marcos said during a meeting with the Filipino community in Vietnam.

“Kaya’t ako’y lubos na nagpapasalamat sa inyong lahat dahil napapadali ang aking trabaho dahil sa magandang reputasyon na itinaguyod niyo sa pamamagitan ng inyong sipag at tiyaga dito sa Vietnam.”

The President said OFWs have won admiration in different parts of the world, adding he that won’t be surprised if Vietnamese leaders also heaped praises on their performance.

And amid the strengthening economy, Marcos vowed to continuously pursue efforts, with the help of the members of his Cabinet, to fight poverty in the country particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vietnam is home to some 7,000 OFWs whose remittances amount to $13,683,000.

The Philippines and Vietnam established their formal diplomatic relations on July 12, 1976, with their ties now spanning 47 years. The two countries elevated their relations to a strategic partnership in 2015.

Marcos’ trip to Vietnam is his first state visit this year. It aims to strengthen not only the bilateral ties between the Philippines and Vietnam, but also strengthen the two countries’ maritime cooperation, and trade and investment relations. (PND)