India and the Philippines on Friday agreed to bolster defence and maritime security partnership and to make it a key pillar of bilateral cooperation, amidst China flexing its military muscles in the region.
The two countries also committed to work closely together to defeat and eliminate terrorism in all its forms as President Ram Nath Kovind held wide-ranging talks with his Philippine counterpart Rodrigo Duterte at his official residence, the Malacanan Palace.
"I had very productive discussions with President Duterte. These cover bilateral cooperation as well as regional and global issues of the day," Kovind said after the talks and signing of four agreements covering maritime domain, security, tourism, science and technology and culture.
Kovind arrived in the Philippines on Thursday as part of his five-day state visit to the country.
"My visit to the Philippines is taking place in this landmark year when we are celebrating 70 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries," Kovind said in a press statement along his Philippine counterpart Duterte.
Acknowledging that the relations between the two countries have grown from strength to strength, Kovind said, "We have strong cooperation in political, defence and security, counter-terrorism, trade and investment as well as in agriculture, science & technology and health fields."