VN, Philippines vow to work towards strategic partnership

VGP – Viet Nam and the Philippines have agreed to double their efforts towards strategic partnership as the mutual understanding and trust between the two countries have been increasingly consolidated over the past time.

October 17, 2014 8:50 PM GMT+7

Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh (L) and Filipino FM Albert F. Del Rosario, Milan, October 16 2014 - Photo: VGP

Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh and Filipino FM Albert F. Del Rosario reached the agreement at their meeting on the sidelines of the 10^th ASEM Summit in Milan, Italy on Thursday.

Both sides also agreed to foster cooperation in building the ASEAN Community by 2015, promoting ASEAN’s solidarity and central role on matters related to peace and security in the region, including the East Sea issue.

Viet Nam already set up strategic partnership with three members of ASEAN, namely Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore.

Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh and Brge Brende, Milan, Italy, October 16, 2014 - Photo: VGP

The same day, Deputy PM, FM Minh also had a bilateral meeting with Norwegian FM Brge Brende during which the two sides vowed to facilitate Norway’s investment in Viet Nam, especially in such fields like shipbuilding, energy, aquaculture, human resource training.

They also agreed to accelerate the free trade agreement talks between Viet Nam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) of Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.

The top Norwegian diplomat said he expects to visit Viet Nam soon, highly valuing the country’s active participation in international organizations.

He affirmed that his country attaches importance to enhancing cooperation with Viet Nam at the United Nations, ASEAN and ASEM./.

By Hai Minh