Philippines, Poland to forge defense cooperation agreement

The Philippines and Poland are eyeing to forge a defense cooperation agreement that may result in the exchange of information, technology and a joint venture to manufacture small arms and ammunition, defense officials said on Monday.

At the same time, Warsaw offered Manila a 140-million-dollar credit facility for the purchase of defense equipment including helicopters, officials announced during Polish Defense Minister Radoslaw Sikorski's courtesy call to Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz in Camp Aguinaldo.

"Our decision to extend a credit facility to the Philippines is our sign of confidence in the Philippine economy," Sikorski told reporters, adding that the credit would be used by the Philippine military, police and anti-narcotics agencies to buy Polish equipment.

"We want to enter into a defense cooperation agreement that explores many areas," Cruz said.

He said the defense cooperation between the two countries could cover exchange of visits and intelligence information.

Sikorski arrived in the Philippines on Sunday afternoon. He is the first Polish defense minister to visit the country.

Source:Xinhua