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"The life will mean nothing if we do not devote to a noble ideal for living. It is like a stone forgotten in the field but not becomes a component of any architectural work", PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng recited the famous statement of Filipino national hero Jose Rizal while talking to students of the Philippines National University.

“Your biggest opportunity is that you are living in an increasingly flat world in which youths are masters of new technologies…”, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng emphasized. “With a majority of population under the age of 30, it is possible to confirm that ASEAN's future will be decided by you, the future masters of your country and the region. ASEAN youths, including all of you, are an indispensable part in realizing ASEAN's dreams and goals: a peaceful, cooperative and prosperous community".

Repeating the famous statement of President Hồ Chí Minh, a world cultural celebrity: "The country becomes prosperous or decadent, powerful or weak, that greatly depends on youths", PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng made all participants understand that he wanted to transfer the young generations his deep confidence that they will become the solid foundation for the development of the two countries, the region and the world.

After the meeting with Filipino students, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng attended the Việt Nam–Philippines Business Forum.

The Vietnamese PM stated that, though the two-way trade turnover in 2006 reached over US$ 1.1 billion, three times higher than in 2002 and the Philippines ranked fourth among ASEAN investors in Việt Nam, those results are not corresponding to the good relationship, potentialities and aspiration of the two Governments and peoples.

Highlighting Việt Nam as an attractive market and investment destination and that the Vietnamese Government always considers foreign investors as an indispensable part of the economy, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng confirmed: Việt Nam's open investment policies will be favorable conditions for Filipino investors and enterprises to do profitable business in the country.

In the morning of same day, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng gave receptions to the Senate President, House Speaker, President of San Miguel (one of the biggest Filipino economic groups) and the Rector of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM).

During the meetings with the Filipino Parliament's leaders, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng reconfirmed Việt Nam's consistent policies to promote the friendship and multifaceted cooperation with the Philippines, both bilaterally and in ASEAN frameworks as well as on regional and international forums, for the mutual benefits, peace, stability, cooperation and development in Southeast Asia and the world.

PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng stated that Việt Nam and the Philippines should closely collaborate to raise their two-way trade turnover to US$ 2 billion in 2007 in line with the agreement made at the 4th meeting of the Việt Nam-Philippines Joint Committee. The PM expressed his desire that the Philippines will support Việt Nam in international economic integration. He also suggested the two countries to boost cooperation in culture, education, tourism, and sports, laying a solid foundation for the successful realization of the "Joint Declaration on the framework for bilateral cooperation in the first quarter of the 21st century and the following stages" signed by the two countries.

By Xuân Hồng