FM Binh Minh holds sideline meetings with diplomats

Meeting with Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn, FM Minh congratulated Cambodia on the successful organisation of the election of the sixth parliament, saying that the initial results showed voters’ trust in the leadership of the Cambodian People’s Party.

He said he believes that the sound neighbourliness, traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between two nations will grow and flourish in future.

Both sides consented to join hands in their preparations for high-ranking visits and bilateral cooperation mechanisms later this year, including a meeting on border provinces’ cooperation and a political consultation between the two foreign ministries.

They were of full determination to carry out cooperation projects effectively and on schedule, and accelerate land border demarcation and marker planting so as to build border areas of peace, stability, cooperation and development.

Minister Prak Sokhonn stated that the Cambodian Government places high priority on swiftly finalizing the granting of legal papers for Vietnamese Cambodians.

With regard to the East Sea issue, both sides agreed upon the need to speed up negotiations to reach a substantial and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) soon, thereby contributing to peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

Talking to Norwegian Foreign Minister Eriksen Søreide, the Vietnamese diplomat urged two countries to intensify all-level delegation exchanges, adding that Vietnam incentivizes Norwegian companies to invest in marine economic sectors, shipbuilding, oil and gas, aquaculture and renewable energy in the Southeast Asian nation.

Norway was also asked to go ahead with the talks on a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association.

Minh also highlighted the European country’s role as a sectoral dialogue partner of ASEAN, while hoping that Norway will continue backing the regional bloc’s central role and further help development in the CLMV nations (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam).

Vietnam is an important partner in ASEAN of her country and more and more Norwegian businesses are expressing their growing interest in the region, including Vietnam, Eriksen Søreide said, saying her nation will step up bilateral and multilateral cooperation with Vietnam at regional and international forums.

Meeting with Japanese Foreign Ministers Taro Kono, Minh thanked the Japanese Foreign Ministry for its closer coordination to successfully organise Vietnamese leaders’ recent Japan visits, especially the State visit by President Tran Dai Quang. The two diplomats agreed that the two sides will continue working hand in hand to actualize the outcomes of those high-ranking exchange visits.

As the coordinator of ASEAN-Japan relations from this August, Vietnam will closely work with the Northeast Asian nation to propel the substantial and effective development of ASEAN-Japan ties forward.

Minister Kono thanked Vietnamese Party and State leaders for their sympathies with Japanese people’s losses in recent natural disasters, adding that the Mekong-Japan Summit, slated for October this year, will help step up cooperation and people-to-people exchange in the region.

Regarding regional issues, the two officials voiced concern about the complicated developments in the East Sea while underscoring the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, as well as denuclearising the Korean Peninsula.

At his meeting with the Iranian Foreign Minister, FM Minh said Vietnam greatly values the time-honoured friendship with Iran, suggesting closer coordination between the two sides to implement the outcomes of recent high-level visits.

Minh asked Iran to facilitate the investment and business operations of major enterprises of Vietnam like Viettel and PetroVietnam in Iran.

Both sides concurred to further bolster cooperation on energy, oil and gas, and banking in the aim of elevating bilateral trade to US$2 billion in the time to come.