VietNamNet Bridge – National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung’s successful visit to Thailand and Japan is the outstanding imprint in parliamentary external relations this year.

VN, Thailand eye strategic partnership
National Assembly Chairman continues activities in Japan

At the visit to Japan. (Source: VNA)

Tran Van Hang, Head of the NA External Relations Committee made the statement to reporters on December 8 at the Chairman’s return to Hanoi from his tour of the two Asian countries.

As Vietnam and Thailand are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Chairman Hung’s visit to Thailand aimed to create greater confidence and serve as a basis to enhance exchange, coordination and consensus between the two countries’ parliaments towards the common goal of building an ASEAN Community, he added.

At meetings during the visit, the two sides discussed important issues, focusing on building the strategic partnership between the two countries under the Thai Prime Minister’s initiative.

Apart from boosting parliamentary cooperation, the visit was to increase cooperation between the two Governments, creating a premise for lifting bilateral ties to the strategic partnership.

Vietnam agreed with Thailand ’s proposal to increase cooperation to form the world’s rice production centre. Both sides reached a consensus to accelerate Thailand-Cambodia-Vietnam-Laos transport links, facilitating cooperation in all fields.

The two countries’ leaders also reached agreement regarding a number of international issues of common concern, particularly the East Sea . Thailand affirmed that in its role as ASEAN-China coordinator, it will spare no effort to push for the full implementation of the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and an early signing of the Code of Conduct (COC). Regarding the visit to Japan, Hang said this was an event long awaited by Japan.

At all meetings, Japan assured that despite of its political change, it still follows the policy to expand cooperation with Vietnam. The nation showed high resolution to maintain and raise the effectiveness of the strategic partnership between the two countries.

In 2013, the countries will co-organise the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Year on the occasion of the 40 years since diplomatic ties were first established.

They affirmed to utilise cooperation to elevate the strategic partnership to a new height.

In economic-trade cooperation, both sides reaffirmed their efforts to implement major projects on infrastructure and high-technology industries that Japan has committed to carry out. The Japanese side also confirmed it will continue to provide large amounts of ODA to Vietnam, Hang revealed.

The two countries’ leaders shared the same views on resolving East Sea-related issues by peaceful means, on the basis of principles in the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea and the DOC, to maintain peace, stability and development in the region.

Hang concluded that Chairman Hung’s successful visit to Thailand and Japan confirmed this year’s NA foreign affair programmes were conducted in a more practical and effective manner.

Parliamentary foreign affairs have focused on key issues to support and create dynamic Government activities, increase people-to-people diplomacy, and improve cooperation programmes and projects between Vietnam and other countries across the world, Hang said.

Source: Vietnam Plus