PM meets Japanese and Australian counterparts

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received Japanese Prime Minister Naoko Kan and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard in Hanoi on October 31 during their visits to the 13th ASEAN-Japan Summit, the East Asia Summit and the related summits. 

At the meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister, PM Dung discussed solutions to strengthen the strategic relation between Vietnam and Japan. They agreed to maintain an exchange of high ranking delegations; boost bilateral economic and trade cooperation, as well as official development assistance (ODA). They also will continue to cooperate in science and technology, national defense and security, human resources development and cultural exchanges.

At the end of the discussion, the two Prime Ministers signed a declaration on comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Japan for peace and prosperity in Asia.

Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, Prime Minister Dung confirmed that Vietnam has chosen Japan to help it construct its second nuclear power plant and assist in developing the rare earth industry. Both countries will complete documents to implement these programmes as soon as possible.

Prime Minister Kan confirmed that the Japanese government will support Vietnam in major projects including Long Thanh International Airport, Ninh Binh-Bai Vot and Nha Trang-Phan Thiet highways, and new underground railways in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Japan will also provide Vietnam with 79 billion Japanese Yen in ODA for key projects such as the Lach Huyen international airport in Hai Phong.

The two Prime Ministers also agreed to work closely on regional and international issues like security and climate change.

Prime Minister Dung met with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on the same day and they agreed to maintain exchanges of high ranking delegations and strengthen cooperation in labour, mineral exploitation, agriculture, education, national defense and security.

Both Prime Ministers witnessed the signing of a common declaration for the project to connect areas within the Mekong river delta and the Vietnam-Australia Action Plan for 2010-2013 period.

Party General Secretary receives Japanese, Australian, and Filipino leaders 
The General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Nong Duc Manh, on October 31 received the Japanese and Australian Prime Ministers and the President of the Philippines, during their official visit to Vietnam.

Mr. Manh spoke highly of the outcomes of meetings between PM Nguyen Tan Dung, President Nguyen Minh Triet and leaders of the three countries, saying they will raise bilateral relationships to higher level.

At the meeting with Japanese PM Naoto Kan, Mr. Manh said he is confident that both countries will effectively carry out cooperative projects in the spirit of  “strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia”.

The Party leader affirmed Vietnam’s policy to develop a comprehensive relationship with Japan. He asked the Japanese government to continue providing Vietnam with official development assistance, take into account the recognition of Vietnam’s market economy, implement the Vietnam-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, and cooperate together at international and regional forums.

PM Kan is committed to strengthening Japan’s relationship with Vietnam, helping Vietnam overcome post-crisis challenges, and cooperating to carry out major projects in various fields.

Japan will also continue to promote exchanges between the two countries’ parties, parliaments, and mass organisations, Mr. Kan said.

While working with Australian PM Julia Gillard, Mr. Manh expressed his delight at the development of the Vietnam-Australia cooperation and thanked Australia for their assistance to Vietnam at international forums.

He said he believes that Australia will see significant development and raise its status in the world under the leadership of the Labour Party.

Vietnam considers Australia one of its important partners, said Mr. Manh, adding that both sides should implement the Vietnam-Australia action programme to reinforce multifaceted cooperation between the two countries and contribute to ensuring peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

The Australian PM said she was impressed by Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements during its renewal process and spoke highly of Vietnam’s contribution to developing cooperation within ASEAN and between the bloc with its partners.

Ms. Gillard said she is delighted at the progress of Australia-Vietnam cooperation, especially in trade, investment, education and training, and infrastructure. She pledged to continue helping Vietnam with its global integration and work closely with the country to improve the effectiveness of  both sides’ cooperation.

At the working session with the President of the Philippines, the General Secretary expressed his sympathy for the victims of the storm Megi, saying he believes the country will soon overcome its hardships to develop and contribute to the region’s peace and cooperation.

He said he is pleased with the development of the Vietnam-Philippines relationship and cooperation over in the past three decades.

Vietnam attaches great importance to bilateral cooperation with the Philippines and will work closely with the country to solve regional issues of mutual concern, he said.

Press conference on Vietnam-US cooperation held in Hanoi  
As part of the 17th ASEAN Summit, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton chaired an international press conference on October 30.

The conference concentrated on the bilateral relationship between Vietnam and the US and US participation in the East Asia Summit.

Before answering questions, Deputy Prime Minister Khiem and Secretary of State Clinton witnessed the signing of cooperative agreements including the contract for Vietnam Airlines to buy B787-9 aircraft from the US Boeing Company and a commitment between the Vietnam Ministry of Information and Communication and the US Microsoft Corporation to improve the Vietnam’s information technology and protect intellectual property rights.

At the conference, Mr Khiem said that the meeting with his US counterpart gained significant results. The two sides agreed on many ideas to boost ties between the two countries in the future and discussed many international and regional issues.

Both officials agreed that the two countries continue to maintain a good relationship and ensure regional stability and prosperity.

After 15 years of normalised relations, the two countries now have close cooperation in many fields including the economy and trade. Two-way trade turnover between them has jumped from US$450 million to US$15 billion.

Vietnam and the US have also worked on health issues including controlling the spread of diseases, HIV/AIDS and resolving the consequences of Agent Orange.

The two countries have seen great improvement in educational cooperation and more than 13,000 Vietnamese pupils and students are currently studying in the US. Both countries also share interests in marine security and disaster search and rescue, and their two armies have agreed to work on natural disaster aid.

The last flood in central Vietnam has caused great losses and the US Secretary of State expressed her sympathies and said that the US and Vietnam will continue many cooperative programmes in the spirit of Trans-Pacific partnership.

She said that her second visit to Vietnam shows that the US values its relationship with Vietnam and its interests in the Southeast Asia and East Asia regions.

Mrs Clinton thanked Vietnam for inviting Russia and the US as distinguished guests to join in the East Asia Summit and said that the US President will attend the event.

Answering a VOV reporter’s question on why the US joins the East Asian Summit while it already takes part in the APEC and ARF summits, the US Secretary of State said that one of the highest priorities when Mr Obama became President was to boost relations with the Asia-Pacific region. The US is situated in a special location between the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans and its wants to join dynamic regional institutions including the East Asia Summit. The US believes that the Summit will be an important forum for politics and security in the Asia-Pacific region and the place where the leaders of many countries meet and discuss important issues.

Japan seeks comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam 
Japan always seeks to boost comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam, a country with rapid economic growth, a strategic political position in the region, and that shares many similarities with Japan.

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan made the statement on October 30 at his meeting with Vietnamese State President Nguyen Minh Triet during his official visit to the country.

At the reception, President Triet stressed the positive development in the two countries’ relationship despite many global changes and expressed his hope that it will continue to improve.

The President thanked Japan for its great support, pledging that Vietnam will make the most effective use of Japan’s official development assistance (ODA).

Prime Minister Kan congratulated Vietnam for its successful organisation of the 17th ASEAN Summit.

He confirmed that Japan will maintain its ODA for Vietnam to help upgrade its infrastructure and technologies. Japan is interested in the implementation of railroad, high-speed railway, urban railway and water sewage projects in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

On the occasion, President Triet asked the Prime Minister to send his invitation to the Japanese Emperor and Queen to pay an official visit to Vietnam and confirmed that he will attend the APEC Summit in Japan in November.

Defence Minister meets Russian military official  
Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh received M. A. Dmitriev, Director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation of Russia, in Hanoi on October 30.

General Thanh praised military cooperation between the two armies over the past time and affirmed that Vietnam always attached importance to developing cooperation with Russia in military and national defence areas for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

M. A. Dmitriev, who accompanied Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to Vietnam for an official visit, expressed his joy at witnessing Vietnam ’s achievements in national construction and defence, and expected that the visit would contribute to boosting the traditional friendship and cooperation in military-technical science between the two armies.

ASEAN-Russia relation expected to rise to new height 
The second ASEAN-Russia Summit, chaired by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, with the participation of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and ASEAN leaders, was held in Hanoi on October 30.

The leaders reviewed recent developments in ASEAN-Russia relations.

They were satisfied at the significant achievements, particularly in the implementation of the Plan of Action to realise the Joint Declaration on ASEAN-Russia on Progressive and Comprehensive Partnership, as well as broadening cooperation in such areas as science and technology, culture, energy, disaster management, counter-terrorism and transnational crimes.

On future direction, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further intensify ASEAN-Russia progressive and comprehensive partnership, strengthening existing dialogue mechanisms towards elevating the relation to a new height.

ASEAN welcomed Russia’s support for its Community building efforts, strengthening ASEAN connectivity as well as its central role in the region. The two sides agreed to continue the effective implementation of the ASEAN-Russia Comprehensive Plan of Action (CPA) in order to foster cooperation in the 2005-2015 period.

The leaders agreed that ASEAN and Russia should employ concrete measures to broaden and deepen dialogue relations into reality, including the maintenance of the ASEAN-Russian Federation Dialogue Partnership Financial Fund (DPFF) and the launching of the ASEAN Centre in Moscow in June 2010; further promotion of trade-economic cooperation, including the possibility of establishment of an ASEAN-Russia Free Trade Area (FTA); as well as strengthening cooperation to address global challenges, especially climate change, environment, natural disasters and infectious diseases.

ASEAN appreciated Russia’s increasing role and expected the country to deeply engage in the evolving regional architecture for the sake of peace, security and development in the region. In that connection, ASEAN strongly supported Russia’s active participation in ASEAN-led regional fora, including the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+) and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

The ASEAN and Russian leaders also exchanged their views on regional and international issues of common concern, in which they emphasised challenges facing the world that need to be handled only by stronger, concerted efforts at the global level.

On conclusion, the leaders issued the Joint Statement of the second ASEAN-Russia Summit, reaffirming the determination to elevate the ASEAN-Russia relation to a new height.

On the sidelines of the event, the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN countries and Russia signed the ASEAN-Russia Cultural Cooperation Agreement.

ASEAN, Australia seek stronger cooperation  
The ASEAN-Australia Summit was held in Hanoi on October 30 under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung with the participation of Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and ASEAN leaders.

This was the first ever summit to be held between ASEAN and Australia, after 35 years of establishment of the dialogue partnership and the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Commemorative Summit on the occasion of 30 th anniversary of dialogue relations in 2004.

The meeting appreciated the fine outcome of cooperation and reaffirmed determination to further strengthen the dialogue partnership.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore, as the Country Coordinator of the ASEAN-Australia dialogue Relations, shared with his counterparts the positive developments made for the past years.

The leaders noted with satisfaction the new and significant achievements in the ASEAN-Australia dialogue relations in various areas, in particular, the signing and implementation of the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) and other important agreements, such as the Plan of Action to Implement the Comprehensive ASEAN-Australia Partnership (2008-2015).

The two sides were pleased with the substantive growth in two-way trade in goods and services, which exceeded US$76 billion in 2009, and looked forward to a higher volume to be attained through AANZFTA, which entered into force in January 2010.

ASEAN expressed appreciation for Australia’s support and assistance to ASEAN’s efforts toward community building, enhancing regional integration and narrowing development gap which was realized in various concrete programmes, especially the Australia Development Cooperation Program (AADCP) and the AANZFTA Economic Cooperation Support Programme.

ASEAN looked forward to Australia’s continued interest in promoting cooperation for development, supporting ASEAN’s regional integration and connectivity, as well as building capacity to effectively address global challenges.

ASEAN welcomed Australia’s consistent policy of long-time engagement with Asia, especially the strengthening of comprehensive cooperation with ASEAN. ASEAN also looked forward to Australia ’s continued support for the Association’s driving seat in regional fora and ASEAN’s centrality in the evolving regional architecture for peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

On the future direction, the two sides agreed to promote cooperation in such priority areas as trade-economic, education, tourism, culture and people-to-people exchange, in order to increase mutual understanding and closer bonds between two sides, while strengthening cooperation in addressing global challenges, particularly on climate change, environment, natural disasters and infectious diseases.

The leaders emphasised that the two sides should continue to maintain regular dialogue at different levels, including at the highest level, to create momentum for the development of the ASEAN-Australia relations to a more substantive and comprehensive level.

Australia supported ASEAN’s view on the emerging regional architecture, with ASEAN playing a central role.

ASEAN and Australia agreed to closer coordinate in regional dialogue and cooperation processes for peace and stability, including the East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, Asia-Europe Meeting and the G-20 Summit.

Australia also expressed its support for the participation of the ASEAN Chair on a regular basis.

In conclusion, the leaders issued a Joint Press Statement of the ASEAN-Australia Summit.