Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on April 27 had separate meetings with his Malaysian counterpart Najib Tun Rajak and President of the Philippines Benigno S. Aquino III on the sidelines of the 26th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

In their meeting with the Malaysian PM, the two leaders concurred with plans and orientations to bolster links between Vietnam and Malaysia in the coming time.

PM Dung said Vietnam always gives priority to promoting cooperation in rice trading with Malaysia, while suggesting the two sides consider to sign a government-level memorandum of understanding (MoU) in the field, expected to pave the way for the activity more stable.

He spoke of the Malaysian Government’s cooperation in issues regarding to fishermen and civil protection.

Malaysian PM Najib Tun Rajak stated his country will continue boosting its ties with Vietnam in all fields, and facilitating operation of Vietnamese labourers living and working in Malaysia.

He also agreed that the two sides will soon sign a MoU on recruiting Vietnamese labourers to work in Malaysia in 2015.

During the meeting between PM Dung and Philippine President Aquino, the two leaders agreed to improve the efficiency of cooperative mechanism formed between the two nations, including the joint bilateral cooperation committee at foreign minister level.

They discussed specific measures to address issues related to fishermen as well as links in agriculture and rice trading, information security, transnational crime prevention and maritime cooperation between Vietnam and the Philippines.

During the meetings, the leaders stressed the need to uphold the centre role played by ASEAN in boosting connection within the bloc. They also agreed on cooperation towards successfully building the ASEAN Community by the end of this year.

They compared notes on issues in the East Sea, while underlining the importance of maintaining peace, stability, mutual trust, and navigation and aviation security, and settling disputes in the East Sea through peaceful means with respect for international law, including the 1982 United Nations on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

PM meets Thai counterpart on ASEAN Summit sidelines

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his Thai counterpart Prayut Chan-ocha have agreed to beef up Vietnam-Thailand trade links for the goal of 15 billion USD in two-way trade prior to 2020.

During their meeting on the sidelines of the 26 th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on April 27, the two leaders showed their determination to strengthen economic-trade and investment links, including in tourism and overland, air and maritime transport.

They called for ways to clear barriers to trade and new partnerships in production and export of rice pepper, and rubber.

The Thai PM vowed all possible support for Vietnam to open a bank branch in Thailand, as well as for the Vietnamese community or guest workers in the country, saying that a cooperation agreement on labour should be signed soon.

Responding to the Vietnamese leader’s proposal on the settlement of issue regarding the recent arrest of fishermen at sea, PM Prayut Chan-ocha agreed to work closely with the Vietnamese side on the issue and suggested considering a plan on joint fishing between the two sides, or with the third country.

For his part, PM Dung spoke of Thailand’s role as the ASEAN - China coordinator in promoting bilateral dialogues on the East Sea issue.

He hoped that Thailand will continue its coordinator role and promoting the serious observance of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), towards a consensus on a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Both leaders also agreed to hold the third joint cabinet meeting between their two governments in the near future.

VNA