PM Nguyen Tan Dung (R) shakes hands with  Filipino President Benigno S. Aquino III, Brunei, April 25,2012 - Photo: VGP

At the meeting with Yingluck, the two sides noted with pleasure their growing friendship and all-around cooperation in politics, national security and defence, economics, trade, investment and socio-culture over the past time, especially since the Viet Nam–Thailand Joint Cabinet convened its second meeting on October 27, 2012.

Last year, two-way trade hit US$9.67 billion. Thailand has invested in 300 projects worth US$6.12 billion in Viet Nam.
PM Dung highly valued the Thai invitation to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to visit the country this year. He accepted the invitation to visit Thailand and attend the Joint Cabinet meeting later this year.

Regarding ASEAN cooperation, the two leaders agreed to focus efforts on fulfilling the Community establishment agenda this year, towards building the ASEAN Community by 2015.

PM Dung spoke highly of Thailand’s coordinator role in ASEAN–China ties.

He affirmed that Viet Nam is always willing to work with Thailand to fulfil responsibilities in the 2012–2015 period, as well as speed up ASEAN–China negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

PM Dung named Singapore as Viet Nam’s leading investment partner. The two-way trade touched US$9.6 billion last year while greeting his Singaporean counterpart.

The two leaders also agreed to organise activities to mark the 40th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties this year and work together at regional and global forums, especially within the framework of ASEAN and the United Nations.

Both sides shared the view that it is necessary to maintain peace, stability, maritime security, safety and freedom in the East Sea, settle disputes by peaceful means, respect international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the ASEAN–China Joint Declaration on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, and promptly formulate the COC.

At a meeting with the Filipino President, the two sides praised the development of their bilateral ties in various fields. Two-way trade volume was nearly US$3 billion last year.

The Vietnamese Government chief suggested Mr. Aquino works with Filipino judicial agencies to promptly release 24 Vietnamese fishermen held by the Philippines.

Both sides consented that ASEAN member nations and relevant sides should enhance efforts to maintain peace, stability and maritime security, peacefully settle disputes and comply with international law and the 1982 UNCLOS./.

By Ngoc Van