Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh held separate meetings with top diplomats of the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia on the sidelines of the 30th ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Manila on April 28. 

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh

During the meeting with Philippine Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo, the two officials spoke highly of the time-honoured and close cooperation between Vietnam and the Philippines.

They agreed to promote high-level visits as well as a ministerial-level meeting of the Joint Committee for Bilateral Cooperation this year, and enhance cooperation in marine issues, including fighting piracy. 

Meeting with Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman, the two ministers discussed measures to boost bilateral ties and speed up the organisation of the sixth session of the Vietnam-Malaysia Joint Committee for Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation as well as the implementation of already signed agreements. 

Minh urged Malaysia to fairly judge the case related to Vietnamese citizen Doan Thi Huong and ensure her legitimate interests. 

While meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, the two sides agreed to increase high-level visits and accelerate negotiations on the demarcation of the exclusive economic zones in waters, where the two nations already demarcated the continental shelves. 

They consented to effectively implement the outcomes of the seventh session of the Vietnam-Indonesia Joint Committee for Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation in a bid to reach 10 billion USD in two-way trade value by 2018. 

The sides also agreed to enhance cooperation to maintain ASEAN’s central role and unity as well as peace and stability in the East Sea. They stressed the need to continue working together closely in ASEAN to finalise a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) and ensure its effective enforcement.

VNA