Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III have shared their deep concern about the "current extremely dangerous situation in the East Sea".
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| Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (left) talks to Phillipine President Benigno S. Aquino III as part of his visit to the Phillipines to attend the World Economic Forum on East Asia 2014. |
Meeting in Manila yesterday, May 21, the two said that China
had conducted many actions in violation of international law, including the
1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as well as the waters of
coastal countries.
Both sides discussed concrete measures to further bilateral
co-operation. They said this was in the interests of each country as well as
for peace, stability, co-operation and development in the region.
The two sides agreed to actively carry out reached
agreements on defence and security, accelerate negotiations for the signing of
an Extradition Agreement and boost co-operation in the logistics and defence
industry.
The two countries will actively consult and support each
other at regional arenas for defence and security, such as the ASEAN Defence
Ministers' Meeting (ADMM), the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM+)
and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).
Both leaders re-affirmed sea and ocean co-operation as a
pillar in bilateral ties and agreed to continue regular exchanges of viewpoints
at bilateral events, such as the Joint Committee on Sea and Ocean Co-operation
and the Group of Legal Experts on Marine Issues.
The two countries will promote co-operation in fisheries,
marine science research, hydrometeorology and marine environment protection.
During
their talks, the two leaders informed each other about their respective
countries' socio-economic development and achievements.
PM Dung congratulated the Philippine Government on reaching
a peace agreement with rebels that ended decades of conflict and paved the way
for development in the southern part of the country.
President Aquino thanked Viet Nam for valuable assistance it
gave to the Philippines to overcome the serious consequences of typhoon Haiyan
in 2013.
Both leaders agreed that bilateral relations were thriving
and agreed to continue strengthening the friendship and multi-faceted
co-operation in the spirit of the "bilateral cooperation framework in the
first 25 years of the 21st century and following period."
They
reached a common perception on orientations to develop these ties.
The two leaders agreed to increase the exchange of
delegations and meetings at all levels and enhance co-operation via Party and
parliament channels and people-to-people exchange.
High-ranking leaders from the two countries will make use of
a wide range of communications, such as visits, phone talks and sideline
meetings to enhance contacts.
Dung and his host spoke of their determination to implement
the Viet Nam-Philippines Action Programme in the 2011-16 period and continue
stepping up collaboration through the bilateral co-operation committee
mechanism.
PM Dung and President Aquino also agreed to continue
boosting economic-trade-investment relations with a view to bringing two-way
trade to US$3 billion by 2016.
The two sides will create favourable conditions for their
businesses to seek co-operation opportunities, strengthen economic connectivity
and ensure food security.
In addition to co-operation in finance, banking and
services, they will encourage the expansion of relations in other potential
areas, such as culture, education, health, science-technology, and tourism.
Regarding measures to deepen bilateral ties, the two leaders
agreed to set up a joint working committee led by the two foreign ministries.
It will be responsible for building a roadmap towards a strategic partnership
and will be soon submitted to the two countries for approval.
Later in the day, PM Dung and President Aquino held a joint
press conference to announce the outcomes of their talks.
Earlier, the Vietnamese Government leader laid a wreath at
the Monument to President Ho Chi Minh at the ASEAN Park in Manila.
Source: VNS
