VietNamNet Bridge – Diplomatic activities in December 2013 have promoted strategic partnership, enhanced relations with border-sharing nations and strengthened bilateral relationship with potential partners in the Asia Pacific region.  

Viet Nam-Japan relationship: new chapter charted

In mid-December, PM Nguyen Tan Dung paid an official visit to Japan, where he attended the ASEAN – Japan Commemorative Summit and the Mekong – Japan Summit in Tokyo.

Following the talks on a wide range of issues with the Vietnamese PM, Japanese PM Shinzo Abe announced an Official Development Assistance (ODA) worth around US$1 billion to finance five projects in Viet Nam in the second phase of the fiscal year 2013.

PM Dung's visit to Japan in the last month of 2013 and PM Shinzo Abe's visit to Viet Nam as his first overseas destination after taking office marked the year of sound relationship between the two countries and saluted a new chapter of the ties.

Relations with Laos and Cambodia tightened

Cambodian PM Samdech Techo Hun Sen made an official visit to Viet Nam from December 26-28 at the invitation of PM Nguyen Tan Dung.

After the talks with PM Dung, the two sides agreed to accelerate the relationship in all fields, striving to increase two-way trade turnover to US$5 billion by 2015.

The two PMs witnessed the signing of 10 cooperative agreements in such fields as economics, justice and education.

Hun Sen chose Viet Nam for his first abroad trip since he was reelected as PM of Cambodia.

In the month, Deputy PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc paid an official visit to Laos and attended a meeting of the Intergovernmental Viet Nam–Laos Cooperation Committee in Vientiane on December 16-17.

The two sides figured out shortcomings in economic, trade, investment and education cooperation and proposed measures to overcome them.

Deputy PM Phuc and his Lao counterpart Somsavad Lengsavath signed an Agreement on economic, education, science and technology cooperation and the Minutes of the 36th meeting of the Intergovernmental Viet Nam–Laos Cooperation Committee.

This is the second visit to Laos Deputy PM Phuc has made in the year.

Viet Nam-US relations progressed

Viet Nam-US relationship has seen new progress with US Secretary of State John Kerry's official visit to Viet Nam from December 14-16.

In his talks with Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh, the two leaders exchanged a number of measures to elevate the comprehensive partnership established in July 2013 during State President Truong Tan Sang's official visit to the US.

They were unanimous in strengthening delegation exchanges, maintaining dialogues and boosting the cooperation in five main areas of marine capacity building, economics, issues related to climate change and environment, education and human rights.

Mr. Kerry committed to financing US$17 million through the US Agency for International Development (USAIDS) to help people living in the Mekong Delta mitigate climate change consequences.

With the hope that Viet Nam will become one of the US’ top partners in the region, Mr. Kerry expected that the two countries will further cooperation in areas that remain untapped.

Relations with American nations expanded

Deputy PM Vu Van Ninh made a tour to Canada, Uruguay and Bolivia from December 2-11.

The Deputy PM had bilateral meetings with leaders of the three nations, confirming Viet Nam’s diplomatic policy and agreed ways to accelerate the cooperative relations in fields of politic, economic, culture, science-technology, education-training and introduce trade and investment opportunities to these nations.

During the working visits, activities were held to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Viet Nam-Canada diplomatic ties and 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties with Uruguay.

In Uruguay, the host Government announced its recognition of Viet Nam as a market economy, becoming the 14th nation to recognize Viet Nam's market economy over the past two years.

 Source: VGP