VN, Brunei vow to coordinate in strengthening ASEAN solidarity, centrality

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (R) welcomes Brunei's second Foreign Minister Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof at the Headquarters of the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry in Ha Noi on March 25, 2019, Photo: VGP

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Brunei’s second Foreign Minister Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof reached the agreement at the pair’s meeting in Ha Noi on Monday.

Viet Nam and Brunei are set to take over the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

Minh extended thanks to Brunei as well as other ASEAN member countries for having supported Viet Nam to win a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council in the tenure 2020-2021.

The two sides voiced strong support for settlement of disputes in the East Sea through peaceful measures on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and called for early conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) that is comprehensive, effective and legally-binding.

Regarding the bilateral ties, Minh spoke highly of the positive advancements of the friendship and multi-faceted cooperation between Viet Nam and Brunei over the past time.

He welcomed close and effective coordination from both sides’ competent agencies to prepare for the upcoming State visit to Viet Nam by King Hassanal Bolkiah from March 26-28, saying the visit will help elevate the bilateral ties to a new height.

Both sides agreed to continue exchange of delegations at all levels and fruitful operation of the existing cooperation mechanisms in a bid to further deepen and broaden their relationship./.

By Quang Minh