Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung met with Philippine President Benigno Aquino in Brunei on October 10 on the sidelines of the 23rd ASEAN Summit to discuss measures to boost bilateral cooperation.

PM Dung affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to developing cooperation with the Philippines, which is not only an ASEAN member country but also a close neighbour of Vietnam with many similarities.

He asked the two sides to further intensify trade exchange opportunities in order to increase two-way trade, and strengthen cooperation in agriculture and aquaculture.

President Aquino spoke highly of the two countries’ cooperation over the past time, affirming that he will direct his country’s authorised agencies to coordinate with the Vietnamese side to effectively implement the 2011-2016 Vietnam-Philippines Action Programme.

He also proposed measures to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in politics-diplomacy, security-defence, economics-trade, agro-fishery, and the sea and oceanic fields.

Also on this occasion, the Vietnamese Government leader held a meeting with his Malaysian counterpart Mohd Najib bin Abdul Razak.

PM Dung suggested the two countries implement some measures to boost their cooperation, including the signing of an agreement on ensuring food security, the promotion of Malaysia’s investment in Vietnam, and the strengthening of cooperation at sea and in energy.

He also urged the Malaysian leader to pay attention to the working environment for Vietnamese labourers in Malaysia.

The Malaysian PM affirmed that his country wants to intensify cooperation with Vietnam in trade, investment and food security.

He also asked the Vietnamese Government to continue supporting Malaysian businesses operating in Vietnam.-VNA