In a significant boost to bilateral tourism and connectivity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced reciprocal visa facilitation measures and efforts to enhance air connectivity between India and the Philippines during his official address welcoming Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos Jr and his delegation to India. The leaders met to commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Highlighting the shared civilisational and cultural ties, Prime Minister Modi expressed appreciation for the Philippines’ recent move to grant visa-free entry to Indian tourists, a decision warmly welcomed by India. In response, India will extend free e-visa facilities to tourists from the Philippines, making cross-border leisure travel more accessible.
In a further effort to deepen people-to-people engagement, PM Modi announced that both countries are working towards launching direct flights between Delhi and Manila within this year. This long-anticipated development is expected to significantly ease travel, enhance tourism, and promote trade between the two nations.
Speaking on the broader scope of bilateral cooperation, Prime Minister Modi stated, “Dialogue at every level and cooperation in every field has long been the hallmark of our relations. Today, the President and I had detailed discussions on our bilateral cooperation, as well as regional matters and global issues. I am happy to share that we have decided to upgrade our ties to a Strategic Partnership. We have also prepared a detailed Action Plan to turn this partnership’s potential into outcomes.”
The announcements form part of a broader strategic partnership unveiled during the visit, covering cooperation in trade, defence, science and technology, and cultural exchange.