State President meets Brunei Sultan, Australian PM

Photo: VNA

At the meeting with Brunei Sultan Hagi Hassanal Bolkiah on November 10, the two sides have actively implemented commitments reached during State President Tran Dai Quang’s visit to Brunei in August 2016 and the first meeting of the Viet Nam-Brunei Joint Committee in Ha Noi in February 2017.

They agreed to focus on speeding up cooperation in politics, defense-security, while giving priority to naval, agriculture, maritime, labor, education-training collaboration and people-to-people contact.

State President Quang lauded close affiliation between the two sides in dealing with issues related to fishermen on the humanitarian and friendly spirit.

He lauded Brunei’s support for Viet Nam’s hosting of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week, while affirming that Viet Nam is willing to cooperate with and assist Brunei in ensuring stable food security.

The State President also expressed hope that Brunei will create favorable conditions for Vietnamese firms in joining oil and gas exploration projects and gas supply in Brunei.

The two sides should soon sign an agreement on setting up a hotline on fishing at sea between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Ministries of Primary Resources and Tourism.

Sultan Hagi Hassanal Bolkiah said that he believes Viet Nam will successfully host the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week and achieve new attainments in national reform, construction and development.

Both sides concurred to work closely to foster solidarity and maintain the central role of the ASEAN in issues related to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

While hosting a reception for Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull on November 10, State President Tran Dai Quang has said that Viet Nam and Australia have huge potential for cooperation, and called on the Australian side to continue its assistance to Viet Nam in poverty reduction and gender equality.

Viet Nam encourages Australian businesses to invest in infrastructure, high-tech agriculture, education and training, he said, calling for more help from Australia in dealing with post-war consequences, including bomb and mine clearance and search for Vietnamese soldiers missing in action.

PM Malcolm Turnbull stressed that Australia considers Viet Nam an important partner in its foreign policy in the Asia-Pacific.

On this occasion, the PM conveyed sympathies of the Australian Government and people to Vietnamese people affected by typhoon Damrey.

The two leaders agreed to deepen the bilateral relationship in an effective and pragmatic fashion, with attention paid to national defense and security, trade, education and people-to-people exchange.

They also looked into regional and international issues of shared concern, including the East Sea issue.

The Australian side affirmed its support for the stance of Viet Nam and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on maintaining peace, stability, maritime safety and freedom in the region, and handling disputes by peaceful measures on the basis of respecting law.

By Hoang Ha