While meeting with Filipino President Benigno Aquino, Dung reiterated the importance Vietnam attaches to its cooperation with the Philippines – an ASEAN member nation and a close neighbour with various similarities.  

He said both countries should make the most of visit exchanges to raise bilateral trade to a new level and to increase cooperation in agriculture and aquaculture among others.

Dung proposed Aquino provide a greater support for the 2011-2016 Vietnam-Philippines Action Programme to ensure its success.

President Aquino said he will instruct Filipino agencies to coordinate with their Vietnamese counterparts to realize the programme’s targets.

He also raised a number of cooperative proposals relating to politics and diplomacy, security and national defence, economics and trade, agriculture and fisheries, and seas and oceans.

At another reception for Malaysian PM Mohd Najib bin Abdul Razak, PM Dung proposed Vietnam and Malaysia sign a food security cooperation agreement, promote Malaysian investment in Vietnam, and strengthen energy and maritime cooperation.

Dung asked Malaysia to ensure expatriate Vietnamese labourers are welcomed with the best working and living conditions possible.

Abdul Razak confirmed Malaysia’s interest in working together on trade, investment, and food security, and asked the Government to facilitate the Malaysian business community’s lasting presence in Vietnam.

The two meetings took place on the sidelines of the 23rd ASEAN Summit in Brunei.

VOV