Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Philippine President Benigno S.Aquino III (Source: VNA)

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III have discussed concrete measures to further bilateral cooperation for the interests of each country as well as for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.

During their talks in Manila on May 21, the two leaders informed each other about their respective countries’ socio-economic development situation and achievements.

PM Dung congratulated the Philippine Government on reaching a peace agreement that ends multi-decade conflicts and paves the way for development in the southern part of the country.

President Aquino thanked Vietnam for the valuable assistance it has given to the Philippines to overcome the serious consequences of typhoon Haiyan in 2013.

Both leaders agreed that bilateral relations are thriving and affirmed to continue strengthening and deepening the friendship and multi-faceted cooperation in the spirit of the “bilateral cooperation framework in the first 25 years of the 21 st century and following periods” as well as agreements reached by the two countries’ high-ranking leaders.

They reached a common important perception on orientations to develop bilateral ties and regional cooperation in the time to come.

Regarding the political-diplomatic relations, the two leaders agreed to increase the exchange of delegations and meetings at all levels and enhance cooperation via Party and parliament channels and people-to-people exchange.

The two countries’ high-ranking leaders will make use of a wide range of communications methods such as visits, phone talks and sidelines meetings to enhance their contact to share views on bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Dung and his host affirmed their determination to successfully implement the Vietnam-Philippines Action Programme in the 2011-2016 period and continue stepping up collaboration through the bilateral cooperation committee mechanism.

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 cooperation in logistics and defence industry.

Vietnam and the Philippines will actively consult and support each other at regional cooperation mechanisms on defence and security such as the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM), the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

Reaffirming sea and ocean cooperation as a pillar in bilateral ties, both leaders agreed to continue the regular viewpoint exchange and coordination at bilateral mechanisms like the Joint Committee on Sea and Ocean Cooperation and the Group of Legal Experts on Marine Issues.

The two countries will promote cooperation in fisheries, marine science research, hydrometeorology and marine environment protection.

PM Dung and President Aquino also agreed to continue boosting economic-trade-investment relations with a view to bringing two-way trade to 3 billion USD by 2016.

The two sides will create favourable conditions for their businesses to seek cooperation opportunities, strengthen economic connectivity and ensure food security.

In addition to cooperation 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 deepening bilateral ties, the two leaders agreed to set up a joint working committee which is led by the two foreign ministries and is responsible for building a roadmap towards a strategic partnership, to be soon submitted to the two countries’ high-ranking leaders for approval.

Besides, the two sides discussed in depth regional and international issues. They agreed to closely work with each other and with other ASEAN states to successfully form a strong and united ASEAN Community in 2015 while maintaining mutual coordination and support at regional and global forums.

About the East Sea issue, PM Dung and President Aquino shared their deep concern about the current extremely dangerous situation in the East Sea as China has 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.

Among those was the illegal installation of the Haiyang Shiyou-981 oil rig escorted by a large number of ships within Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone, seriously threatening peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation in the East Sea .

The two sides resolutely opposed those actions and called on countries and the international community to continue raising strong voices to request China to immediately end such violations, strictly abide by international law, the 1982 UNCLOS and the Declaration on Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and work towards the formation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

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.

In the evening of the same day, President Aquino hosted a banquet for PM Dung and his entourage.

VNA