At the invitation of the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi; the President of the Republic of the Philippines, H.E. Mr. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has paid a five-day State Visit to India from 4-8 August 2025. President Marcos is accompanied by the First Lady, Mme. Louise Araneta Marcos and a high-level official delegation including several Cabinet Ministers of the Philippines and a high-level business delegation.

India is delighted to welcome Philippines President, Mr. Bongbong Marcos at a time when we mark 75 years of bilateral relations between our nations. It is equally gladdening that we have decided to elevate ties to a Strategic Partnership, which ensures our cooperation becomes… pic.twitter.com/OmzpxziBFp
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 5, 2025

Celebrating the seventy-fifth anniversary of the establishment of India-Philippines diplomatic relations; both the leaders acknowledged the long-standing friendship between the two countries based on mutual respect, trust, civilizational contacts, shared values and culture.

On this occasion, the establishment of a ‘Strategic Partnership’ between India and the Philippines was declared, which marks a new chapter towards realizing the full potential for bilateral, regional and international cooperation between the two countries. It aims to chart a future-oriented, mutually beneficial cooperation.

The Plan of Action

It is guided by the Plan of Action (2025-2029) adopted by the two countries on 5 August 2025, with the objective of imparting greater dynamism to the India-Philippines partnership, the two leaders agreed to:

Strengthen political engagement through regular high-level exchanges and dialogue on bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral issues of mutual interest, including through the convening of the Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC), Policy Consultation Talks and Strategic Dialogue;
Foster greater cooperation across various sectors and levels, through effective operationalization of existing ‘Agreements and MoUs’ and early finalization of Agreements and MoUs under negotiation;
Intensify dialogue through the various bilateral institutional mechanisms, including the Joint Working Groups (JWGs) on Trade and Investment, Counter-terrorism, Tourism, Health and Medicine, Agriculture and Financial Technology;
Encourage interaction between the legislatures of the two countries, particularly exchanges between young leaders of both countries, to further strengthen mutual understanding;
Acknowledge the progress made under the Agreement on Defense Cooperation signed between India and the Philippines on 4 February 2006;
Facilitate the regular convening of institutional mechanisms including the Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) and Joint Defence Industry and Logistics Committee (JDILC) for dialogue on defense cooperation, with emphasis on defense industrial collaboration, defense technology, research, training, exchanges, and capacity building;
Institutionalize military training activities between the two countries and Service-to-Service interactions, with increased focus on tri-service cooperation;
Recognize the vital role of the seas and oceans in achieving development needs of the two countries, rights and freedoms as coastal states, developing economies, and maritime nations of the Indo-Pacific region;
Institutionalize engagements on maritime issues and commending the deepening maritime cooperation between India and the Philippines, including by the annual India-Philippines Maritime Dialogue which was first held in Manila on 11-13 December 2024, and looking forward to India’s hosting of the next dialogue as a way to maintain the positive momentum of maritime engagement;
-Exchange views on global and regional maritime challenges, sharing best practices on deepening maritime cooperation, and promoting coordination and expertise between maritime authorities and law enforcement agencies and marine science and research institutions on the peaceful, sustainable and equitable use of the oceans, seas, and marine resources;
Share the best practices, intelligence, technical support, subject matter expert (SME) exchanges, workshops and industrial assistance through and between appropriate agencies of both Governments;
Enhance cooperation in the area of maritime security including through collaborative efforts for enhanced maritime domain awareness (MDA), cooperation in ship-building, maritime connectivity, coastal surveillance, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), pollution control and search and rescue (SAR) between Navies and Coast Guards;
Collaborate and cooperate in co-development and co-production of defence equipment, to achieve the goal of self-reliance in defence production, and encouraging investments and joint initiatives in the establishment of defence R&D, and supply chain ecosystem;
Expand cooperation in the field of hydrography, including improvement of hydrographic infrastructure and joint oceanographic research surveys to ensure safe and efficient navigation contributing to the overall maritime security of the region;
Strive for participation in multilateral exercises including in the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise and Exercise MILAN, and the Philippines’ Maritime Cooperative Activities (MCAs);
Foster greater security cooperation through regular dialogues, engagements and exchanges of best practice on UN peacekeeping operations (PKO), supply chain management, military medicine, global and regional security environment, traditional and non-traditional security concerns such as maritime security, and cyber security and critical technology issues, as well as the protection of critical information infrastructure, and security-related concerns on economic matters;
Strengthen joint efforts, including through regular convening of the Joint Working Group on Counter-terrorism, in (i) combating terrorism, violent extremism, radicalization, transnational organized crimes including trafficking in narcotics and weapons, human trafficking, cyber-crimes, cyber-threats from new and emerging technologies, misuse of the internet for terrorism purposes, terror financing, international economic crimes, proliferation financing, money laundering; (ii) facilitating the sharing of information and best practices, capacity building, co-operation in multilateral fora on counter-terrorism; and (iii) promoting zero tolerance towards terrorism;
Deepen cooperation in cyber domain, including through policy dialogue, capacity building, sharing of best practices and exchanges of expertise on digital public infrastructure, financial technology, digital economy, artificial intelligence, digital forensics and Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) cooperation, protection of critical information infrastructure and capacity building on digital skills;
Promote business and commercial linkages as a key driver of the India-Philippines partnership and to this end, working towards strengthening bilateral trade and investment cooperation, and unlocking greater economic opportunities;
Welcome the steady increase in bilateral trade, which reached approximately US$ 3.3 billion in 2024-25 and sustaining such growth, leveraging complementarities, and expanding the basket of goods and services traded;
Strive for expeditious conclusion of the negotiations of the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between India and the Philippines for further promotion of mutual trade. Both sides to promote further collaboration to facilitate two-way investments;
Convening regular meetings and exchanges between the senior officials from the respective counterpart ministries on both sides, including under existing mechanisms, to promote trade and investment, facilitate early resolution of market access issues, foster greater integration with global supply chains and lay a robust foundation for new areas of collaboration, especially in renewable energy, critical minerals, electric vehicles, digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence, robotics, ICT, biotechnology, creative industry and startups, construction and infrastructure, iron and steel, shipbuilding and ship repair, agriculture, and tourism;
Foster partnerships in infrastructure development and in implementation of connectivity and transport projects;
Facilitate Joint Customs Cooperation Committee meetings for improved trade facilitation through simplified customs procedures;
Encourage businesses and industry representatives to explore opportunities offered by both countries through the exchange of business delegations, greater B2B contacts, trade fairs and business conclaves, among others;
Promote greater cooperation and coordination between the Governments of the two countries as well as among their international and financial bodies for enhancing international and regional trade;
Expedite the review of ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) towards making it more effective, user-friendly, simple and trade facilitative for businesses;
Enhance collaboration in healthcare and pharmaceuticals sectors, in accordance with relevant laws and regulations in each country, to support better health outcomes and reinforce health systems through capacity building, knowledge sharing, and joint research initiatives;
Enhancing cooperation in the field of Ayurveda and Traditional Medicine, including through training and exchange of experts;
Support the Philippines’ local developmental priorities, through the implementation of Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) under the Indian grant assistance.
Enhance Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) cooperation through joint research and development, exchange of STI information and scientists, and capacity building activities in mutually agreed priority areas, including under the Program of Cooperation in the Fields of Science and Technology for the period 2025-28 between the Indian Department of Science and Technology and the Philippine Department of Science and Technology;
Foster cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, including space science and technology applications, and welcoming the role of academia, research and development, industry, and innovation.

Further cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy

Strengthen cooperation in the field of Information and Communication Technology including information sharing and exchange of best practices on Edu-tech and Med-tech;
Expand cooperation in the field of agriculture, including in rice production, agri-research and strengthening partnership in the development of sustainable fishing and aquaculture;
Enhance all modes of connectivity between India and the Philippines, including physical, digital and financial linkages;
Strengthen collaboration in e-governance, financial inclusion, and Digital Public Infrastructure, while ensuring cybersecurity and privacy considerations;
Enhance regional maritime connectivity, including through greater port-to-port connections;
Work towards enhanced air connectivity between the countries, through establishment of direct air connectivity. In this regard, both leaders welcomed the scheduled direct flights between the two capitals in the coming months;
Facilitate greater people-to-people exchanges. In this regard, the two leaders welcomed the grant of visa-free privileges to Indian tourists by the Philippines, and the extension of gratis e-tourist visa for Filipino nationals by India;
Regular convening of the Joint Consular Consultation Meeting;
Welcome the conclusion of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty on Criminal Matters and the Treaty on Transfer of Sentenced Persons;
Further strengthen people-to-people ties and cultural connections, exchanges and collaborations between the two countries through enhanced interactions, including under the expanded Cultural Exchange Program;
Foster greater cultural exchange through participation in scholarship courses offered by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations;
Encourage exchanges and dialogue between tourist organizations, tourism professionals and the hospitality sector in both countries, in addition to the regular convening of the Joint Working Group on Tourism;
Facilitate student and media exchanges and promote engagements between think tanks and academic institutions;
Enhance India-Philippines training and capacity building cooperation, including under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program;
Cooperate closely in multilateral and regional forums, including in the United Nations and its specialized agencies, on global issues of mutual concern and interest, such as rule of law in the global commons, counter-terrorism, climate change and sustainable development. Actively supporting the reform and expansion of the United Nations Security Council, both in permanent and non-permanent categories of membership, through text-based negotiations;
Reaffirm shared commitment to free, open, transparent and rules-based trading system, both countries underscored the need to work together under bilateral, regional, and multilateral platforms to strengthen supply chains, promote trade facilitation, and ensure that trade contributes to their economic development;
-Call for concerted global efforts to address climate change based on best available science and best available technologies, through global initiatives like the International Solar Alliance, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, the Global-Biofuels Alliance, and Mission-Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE);
Explore cooperation under the aegis of the Board of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, which is headquartered in the Philippines;
Commend conservation efforts like through the International Big Cat Alliance;
Reaffirm full respect and adherence to international law, particularly on the rights and obligations of States under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and its dispute settlement mechanisms, including on the geographic and substantive limits of maritime entitlements, the duty to protect and preserve the marine environment, as well as reaffirming the freedom of navigation and overflight, and the importance of unimpeded commerce based on the principles of international law, as reflected notably in UNCLOS;
Underscore that the final and binding 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea is a significant milestone and the basis for peacefully resolving disputes in accordance with international law;
Express concern for the situation in the South China Sea particularly with regard to coercive and aggressive actions that impact on regional peace and stability, and calling on relevant parties to exercise self- restraint and commit to peaceful and constructive means to resolve and manage disputes;
Support the deepening and expansion of engagement and cooperation under the ASEAN framework, including through regular summit-level interactions, to jointly strengthen the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The Philippines appreciated India’s continued commitment to ASEAN Centrality and active participation and cooperation in ASEAN-led mechanisms in the evolving regional architecture;
Explore cooperation under the ASEAN-India Joint Statement on Cooperation on the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) for peace, stability and prosperity in the region, through enhanced cooperation between the AOIP and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative;
Continue cooperation in multilateral forums on matters pertaining to the Global South, including through the Voice of the Global South Summit (VOGSS). In this regard, India appreciated the active participation of the Philippines in all three VOGSS convened to date.
The two countries also expressed their determination to forge ahead in this strategic partnership, true to the fundamental and lasting spirit of the Treaty of Friendship between the Government of India and the Government of the Philippines of 11 July 1952.

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