India and the Philippines are conducting a maritime partnership exercise (MPX) in the West Philippine Sea to boost maritime cooperation, the Indian Embassy in Manila announced Wednesday.

The Indian Navy conducts MPX with friendly foreign navy units to enhance interoperability and share best practices.

The embassy said India’s visiting warship, the INS Kadmatt, would hold the MPX with BRP Ramon Alcaraz on Dec. 13, which it hoped would also promote “common approaches for a rules-based order” in the area.

In a reception on Tuesday night, Indian Ambassador Shambhu Kumaran said contributing to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region is a “key priority” for India.

India also hopes to see stronger engagements with the Philippines, specifically in the areas of economic cooperation and national security.

“The Philippines is centrally located in the Indo-Pacific and we are very close partners, fellow democracies. We have a shared interest in peace and stability of the region— a lot of complementarities. So, you will expect that India will continue a strong Navy and maritime security engagement,” Kumaran said.

“On the national security pillar, defense cooperation and maritime security is very important,” he said.

The envoy said New Delhi will also continue supporting Manila in calling for the adherence to a rules-based order and respect for international law amid latest developments in the South China Sea.

The Indian Navy’s indigenously built ASW Corvette INS Kadmatt, on a long-range deployment to key Indo-Pacific partner countries, arrived in Manila on Dec. 12. (PNA)