Manila, May 27 -- The Philippines and Vietnam are in negotiations to further elevate their strategic partnership into a "comprehensive strategic partnership".

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. held a bilateral meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on the sidelines of the ongoing ASEAN Summit in Malaysia on Monday.

"Our ministers are in discussion on the possibility of elevating the strategic partnership to a comprehensive strategic partnership. I believe there are already productive conversations between our two countries," Marcos said during their meeting, as quoted in a Malacanang news release.

The Vietnamese Prime Minister acknowledged the "remarkable progress" in bilateral relations since Marcos' state visit to Vie...