VGP – Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister met with Foreign Ministers of Russia, Norway, Thailand and Japan on the sidelines of the ongoing ASEAN Ministerial Meetings and related meetings in Bangkok, Thailand on July 31. 

At the meeting between Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh
and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Bangkok, Thailand on July 31, 2019.

Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Minh and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke highly of the two countries’ efforts to organize various activities marking the Viet Nam-Russia Year and Russia-Viet Nam Year in 2019-2020. 

They two Foreing Ministers noted that the bilateral ties have advanced positively as evidenced by regular exchange of high-level visits and contacts and expanding cooperation in economy, trade, tourism, defense and security and people-to-people exchanges.

The Russian side emphasized the importance of ASEAN-Russia cooperation, voicing support for ASEAN centrality in the regional architecture.

Meanwhile, Viet Nam extended thanks to Russia for having backed the Southeast Asian country to win a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, asking the Russia side to continue cooperation with Viet Nam as the country will assume the UNSC non-permanent membership and ASEAN Chairmanship since 2020.

Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh meets withThailand's Foreign
Minister Don Pramudwinai in Bangkok, Thailand on the sidelines of the 52nd ASEAN
Ministerial Meeting and related Meetings.

* At his meeting with Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Minh congratulated Thailand on its achievements as the ASEAN Chair in 2019.

The two Foreign Ministers agreed to soon complete the development of an action plan for implementation of the Viet Nam-Thailand Strategic Partnership for the 2019-2024 in order to promptly realize the high-level agreements reached between their two Prime Ministers on the sidelines of the 34th ASEAN Summit as well as the goal to increase two-way trade value to US$20 billion by 2020.

Pramudwinai affirmed Thailand stands ready to support Viet Nam as the UNSC non-permanent member, expressing his belief that Viet Nam will successfully undertake the ASEAN Chairmanship role in 2020.

* Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Minh and Norway’s Foreign Minister E. Soreide, both sides expressed their pleasure at the positive advancements of the bilateral ties over the past time.

Both sides pledged to foster the talks on a free trade agreement between Viet Nam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

Soreide said Viet Nam is an important market and partner of Norway and Norwegian investors are eager to invest in the Southeast Asian country.

Minh thanked Norway for having supported Viet Nam to win a non-permanent seat on the UNS, pledging to coordinate closely with Norway within the UNSC and other multilateral forums.

* Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Minh and Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, both sides expressed their pleasure that the extensive advancements of the Viet Nam-Laos traditional friendship and special solidarity across fields and channels.

They highly valued the effectiveness of cooperation between the two foreign ministries, vowing to continue coordination in realizing their agreements for 2014-2020 period and enhance regular consultation and exchanges between the two foreign ministries.

Both sides also affirmed their resolve to work closely together at regional and international mechanisms like the UN, ASEAN, GMS, ACMECS among others.

* Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Minh and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono, the two sides discussed and agreed on measures and orientations to beef up their extensive strategic partnership in all fields.

They also agreed to increase visits and contacts, especially high-level ones and create favorable conditions for Japan’s investments in Viet Nam.

The two Foreign Ministers engaged in regional and international issues of common concerns, including ways to enhance cooperation in such mechanisms like ASEAN-Japan, Mekong-Japan as well as the situation on the Korean peninsula.

During the above meetings, Viet Nam and the aforesaid countries shared information o the East Sea situation as well as their positions to settle related issues through peaceful measures in line with international law and the UNCLOS./.