VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and his German counterpart, Guido Westerwelle discussed measures to boost bilateral ties in the future during their talks in Berlin on September 20.

They briefed each other on their perspectice countries’ situation and discussed regional and international issues of common concern.

The two FMs agreed that upgrading the Vietnam-Germany relationship to a strategic partnership status has created a framework to develop the two countries’ cooperation in a strong, comprehensive and effective manner in all aspects, especially in priority areas such as politics-diplomacy, economics-trade-investment, development cooperation, law, education-training and science-technology.

On that basis, they reached consensus on major measures and orientations to deepen the Vietnam-Germany strategic partnership in the future.

Both host and guest agreed to increase the exchange of delegations at all levels to create a momentum for the intensive and effective development of bilateral cooperation.

The two ministers highly valued German Minister of Economics and Technology Philipp Roesler’s visit to Vietnam from September 17-19. They affirmed to closely coordinate with each other to arrange a Germany visit by Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung in 2013.

They spoke highly of the outcomes of the first deputy foreign ministerial-level meeting of the Vietnam-Germany Strategic Management Group in Berlin on September 10, considering it an effective and important mechanism to speed up the implementation of specific contents in the Vietnam-Germany Strategic Action Plan.

Both FMs expressed their pleasure at positive developments in trade and investment ties between the two countries despite economic difficulties in Europe and the world as a whole, with Germany continuing to be Vietnam’s largest trade partner in the EU. Many German groups and companies have been operating effectively in Vietnam.

However, they also held that Germany’s direct investment in Vietnam remains modest and urged the two sides to create more favourable conditions for their businesses to operate in each other’s market.

Minh thanked the German government and people for  providing official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam in the past years and welcomed Germany’s decision to put Vietnam in the priority list of ODA recipients in the coming time, with focus on the areas of environmental protection, health, vocational training and climate change adaptation, which go in line with Vietnam’s socio-economic development priorities.

The two sides agreed to foster education and training cooperation, especially in building the Vietnam-Germany University and developing it into a regional and international – recognised university.

Minh affirmed that Vietnam will create the best possible conditions for Germany to extend the current pilot programme on teaching German in high schools in Vietnam.

The two ministers also underlined the need to further intensify bilateral cooperation on science and technology.

Minh proposed that German government should continue facilitating overseas Vietnamese’s integration into the local community, enabling them to make positive contributions to the host country, helping to strengthen friendship and cooperation between the two nations.

The two ministers also shared views on a number of international issues of mutual concern and agreed to accelerate cooperation in multi-lateral forums and international organisations such as ASEM, ASEAN, EU and the UN. They reached consensus on the need to promote the two countries’ roles and positions in ASEAN and the EU in a bid to further lift the two regions’ cooperation.

Guido Westerwele affirmed that Germany will continue supporting Vietnam’s efforts to strengthen the comprehensive cooperation with the EU, and assist the Southeast Asian nation in the negotiation process on a Free Trade Agreement and the implementation of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with the EU.

The two sides expressed concerns about the recent development in the East Sea, which made negative impact on regional peace and stability. They agreed that disputes should be resolved by peaceful measures on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

On the same day, Minister Minh received Vice Chairman of Foreign Relations Committee of the German Parliament Hans-Ulrich Klose.

VNN/VNA