Diplomatic highlights in June

Strengthening ties with Algeria, Portugal, and Bulgaria

In early June, PM Nguyen Tan Dung paid official visits to Algeria, Portugal and Bulgaria with an aim to further strengthen political trust and mutual understanding as well as broadening new horizon of cooperation with these countries.

During his three-day stay in Algeria, PM Dung met with President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and Speaker of the Council of the Nation Abdelkader Bensalah, held talks with PM Abdelmalek Sellal Abdelkader Bensalah.

The two countries agreed on a wide range of measures and orientations to boost cooperation, especially in such fields like trade, investment, labor, healthcare, culture and tourism.

The two sides agreed to lift up the two-way trade volume to US$1 billion in the years to come from the current US$250 million.

In Portugal, PM Dung met with President Anibal Cavaco Silva, held talks with PM Pedro Passos Coelho, co-chaired the Viet Nam-Portugal Business Dialogue and Marine Economics Forum.

Both sides discussed measures to push the bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern. The leaders underlined the importance of peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation for marine economic cooperation and shared their concern over the recent complicated changes in the East Sea.

Both PM Dung and his Portugal’s counterpart called for efforts to protect marine environment at the marine economics forum.

In Bulgaria, PM Dung also met with President Rosen Plevneliev, held talks with PM Boyko Borissov, and attended the Viet Nam-Bulgaria Business Dialogue.

The two PMs reaffirmed their resolve to further enhance cooperation in various areas, especially in trade and investment, toward the establishment of strategic partnership.

They emphasized the central role of the United Nations and reaffirmed their position that all disputes must be settled through peaceful measures in conformity with international law without taking unilateral actions that may escalate tensions or threaten peace, security and stability in the region and the world.

The host leaders voiced their support for Viet Nam to expand cooperation with the EU, for EU’s early ratification of the Viet Nam-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, and for early conclusion of the Viet Nam-EU free trade agreement.

Meetings of steering committee for bilateral cooperation with China, Indonesia

Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh and Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi co-chaired the 8^th meeting of the Viet Nam-China Steering Committee on Bilateral Cooperation in Beijing from June 17-19.

The two sides focused discussions on measures to realise agreements reached during Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit to China in April 2015 and efficiently implement an action programme on the Viet Nam-China strategic cooperative partnership in order to enhance bilateral ties.

Both sides agreed to maintain regular visits and meetings between the two countries’ high-level leaders, carry out a cooperation plan for 2016-2020 between the two Parties, and organize several exchange activities for people and youth in 2015.

The two sides also exchanged views candidly on maritime issues, stressing the need to follow important common perceptions reached by the Parties’ and States’ high-level leaders, and strictly implement the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of maritime issues.

On June 18, the Vietnamese official met with Premier Li Keqiang, during which he affirmed Viet Nam attaches importance to developing its comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership with China.

He asked the Premier to direct Chinese sectors and localities to implement the outcomes of the meeting, intensify the import of Vietnamese agro-fishery and forestry products—especially rice—and address disputes in the East Sea on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

From June 24-25, Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh and Indonesian FM co-chaired the 2^nd meeting of the two countries’ Committee for Bilateral Cooperation.

The two countries agreed to create more favorable conditions for their businesses to boost trade exchanges in a bid to achieve the target of raising the two-way trade value to US$10 billion by 2018.

Regarding the East Sea issue, both sides emphasized the importance of  maintaining peace, stability, security, safety of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, of peaceful settlement of disputes on the basis of international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and of serious implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, and working toward to the conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.

During his stay in Indonesia, Deputy PM, FM Minh paid courtesy call to President Joko Widodo.

Making active contributions to CLMV7, ACMECS6

PM Nguyen Tan Dung led a high-ranking delegation to attend the 7^th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Viet Nam (CLMV) Summit and the sixth Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy Summit (ACMECS) in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar from June 22-23 to forge investment and trade connections in the region.

PM Dung and leaders of Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar reaffirmed their commitments to enhance their traditional friendship and cooperation for peace, stability and prosperity in Southeast Asia.

He proposed a number of measures to bolster cooperation between Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Viet Nam while attending the seventh CLMV Summit, including the expansion of infrastructure connectivity to facilitate cross-border transport and trade activities.

The four nations should double their efforts to improve business and investment environment and strictly follow bilateral and multilateral agreements and commitments on smoothing trade and investment activities, said PM Dung.

The Vietnamese Government chief also called on Ayeyawadi-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) member countries focus on agriculture as an affiliation priority./.

By Huong Giang