(AseanAll)  — Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi witnessed the exchange of the landmark Declaration on the Establishment of Strategic Partnership between the Republic of the Philippines and the Republic of India, exchanged on 05 August 2025 by Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro and Dr. S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India. 

The landmark Declaration expresses the shared aspiration for a long-term,  robust future for bilateral relations that would benefit both peoples.  It also directs both countries to intensify their cooperation across a broad range of sectors, both in traditional and emerging areas.

The Strategic Partnership is guided by the Plan of Action (2025-2029).  It enumerates activities for cooperation in political, trade and investment, connectivity, defence and security, the maritime domain, science and technology, climate change, space, health and pharmaceuticals, agriculture, digital technologies, development cooperation, culture, tourism, people-to-people exchanges and other fields.

The Strategic Partnership with India is only the fifth of such partnerships for the Philippines, after those it has with Japan, Vietnam, Australia, and the Republic of Korea.  In the words of President Marcos, “We approach the forging of such relationships with great deliberation—less of caution but more of adherence to a very high standard—the standard that upholds mutual and strategic trust, a common cause, a clear alignment of interests, and indeed, a track record of being responsible players in the international arena and the global commons.”

The Philippines and India also exchanged 11 signed agreements in defense, coast guard, legal cooperation, science and technology, digital, space and cultural cooperation.  

Among the most welcomed initiatives of both governments are the grant by the Philippines of visa-free entry to Indian tourists, and the announcement of Prime Minister Modi granting India’s e-tourist visa, free of charge, to Filipino tourists.