PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc active on ASEM sidelines

Ulan Bator (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had bilateral meetings with leaders of Asian and European countries on the sidelines of the 11th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, on July 15.

At a meeting with his Finnish counterpart Juha Sipila, PM Phuc appreciated Finland’s policies to encourage its enterprises to increase investment and business in Vietnam.

He pledged to create more favourable conditions for Finnish investors in the fields where Finland has an advantage and Vietnam has a demand like green technology, renewable energy and education, to serve sustainable development.

He asked Finland to continue its ODA provision for Vietnam, particularly in the environment, climate change, institutional improvement, and to help Vietnam in accessing loans from the International Development Association (IDA) – a World Bank fund – beyond 2017.

The Finnish PM affirmed to intensify cooperation with Vietnam in the areas of energy, information technology and education and training.

Both of them agreed to strengthen collaboration at international forums such as the United Nations and the ASEM.


While meeting Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann, the Vietnamese Government leader suggested both sides coordinate to organise activities to celebrate the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

He expressed his hope that Swiss enterprises will do long-term business and expand investment in Vietnam in finance and banking, insurance, high technology, the manufacturing industry, pharmaceuticals, farm produce processing and tourism.

President Johann Schneider-Ammann confirmed that Vietnam continually remains a priority in Switzerland’s ODA policy, while agreeing on the early completion of negotiations on a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

He vowed to provide Vietnam with preferential treatments that are similar to those for Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc also had a meeting with his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong , during which they discussed measures to boost the two countries’ strategic partnership and exchanged notes on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Phuc invited his Singaporean counterpart to attend the 20 th founding anniversary of the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) in Binh Duong in mid-September, saying that the latter’s presence at the event will be significant to the bilateral relations.

PM Lee stated that he always supports VSIP projects.

Talking to Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, PM Phuc spoke highly of the diverse business activities of Thai enterprises in Vietnam.

PM Chan-o-cha, in turn, committed to encouraging Thailand’s major companies to intensify their investment in Vietnam and pay attention to the Vietnamese side’s interests.

They agreed to step up joint governmental meetings to discuss specific cooperative measures.


Meanwhile, PM Phuc and President of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Park Geun-hye reached a consensus on intensifying the two countries’ trade and economic ties, seeking measures to ensure a trade balance by reducing Vietnam’s trade deficit, and encouraging more RoK businesses to invest in Vietnam in the fields of high technology, energy and transport.

The RoK leader stated that as Vietnam is her country’s leading development partner, the RoK will share experience with Vietnam in developing new-style rural areas and help Vietnam organise the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) year in 2017.

They agreed to discuss and sign a Vietnam-RoK framework credit agreement for 2016-2020, and increase the ODA provision for projects on green growth and climate change response.

PM Phuc thanked the RoK Government for its 300,000 USD in aid for the central and Mekong Delta regions hit by drought and saline intrusion.


At a meeting with his German counterpart Angela Merkel, PM Phuc showed his hope that German investors will prepare to anticipate opportunities brought by the pending Vietnam-EU free trade agreement (EVFTA).

He pledged to create all favourable conditions for Germany to expand investment in the manufacturing industry, high technology, green and renewable energies, infrastructure and logistics.

Chancellor Merkel spoke of the Vietnamese Government’s facilitation of the operation of the Vietnam-Germany University, hoping for intensified cooperation in education and training.


Talking to Malta Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, the Vietnamese leader affirmed that Vietnam treasures and wishes to further strengthen its relations with EU nations, including Malta.

He stated that although the two countries set up their diplomatic ties more than 40 years ago, their economic and trade cooperation has yet to meet the two countries’ potential and needs to be boosted further.

Both PMs agreed to create favourable conditions for the two countries’ enterprises to intensify cooperation in the fields of finance, banking, insurance, logistics and maritime transportation.

The Malta PM affirmed to help speed up the EU’s signing and ratification of the EVFTA.

Malta is willing to act as a bridge for Vietnamese goods to approach European and African markets, he said.

The two PMs then witnessed the signing of an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of income tax evasion between the two Governments.


At a meeting with his Polish counterpart Beata Szydło, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc lauded the country’s improving position in the European Union and in the world, and its contributions to ASEM efforts to address global challenges.

He said Vietnam welcomes Poland’s efforts in boosting connections between the EU and ASEAN as well as in supporting sub-region cooperation projects, particularly the Mekong-Danube collaboration.

Phuc thanked the Polish Government for the favorable conditions Vietnamese expatriates have received when living in the country, adding his hope that the support will continue in the long-term.

Both sides agreed to maintain delegation exchanges, particularly among senior officials, and that they might soon sign a financial pact.

Vietnam is committed to the efficient use of a 250 million EUR credit packet funded by Poland, Phuc noted.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the Netherlands supports Vietnam’s access to loans from the International Development Association (IDA) after 2017, at a talk with PM Phuc.

The Vietnamese PM said he is pleased with the signing bilateral strategic partnership agreements on climate change response and water management, and on agriculture and food security.

He added that Vietnam is willing to assist Dutch enterprises to invest in the sectors of shipbuilding, energy and logistic services in Vietnam. The authority support will also come to the development of judicial cooperation and in building relationships between the two countries’ localities.

The two PMs agreed to convert the outlook and recommendations of the Mekong Delta Programme into specific measures.

At another meeting, PM Phuc and Indian Vice President Mohammad Ansari expressed their wish to deepen bilateral ties following the impressive progress of the two countries’ strategic partnership.

Conversing with New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully , PM Phuc proposed that New Zealand facilitates the completion of administration procedures that will open more opportunities for Vietnamese fruit to enter their market.

McCully said New Zealand will support Vietnam in organising the 2017 APEC Summit and invited the Vietnamese PM to visit his country soon.

PM Phuc also had a brief conversation with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker where both sides were pleased with the growing ties between Vietnam and the EU.

On July 15, PM Phuc met with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe and congratulated him on the victory of his Liberal Democratic Party in the recent parliamentary election.

Vietnam looks to Japan’s support toward its access to IDA loans, Phuc noted.

Abe said Japan highly values the partnership with Vietnam and will implement agreements secured by both sides in the recent visit of the Vietnamese PM to Japan.

At these meetings, leaders of ASEM countries said they support the peaceful settlement of disputes in the East Sea in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), for freedom, security and safety of navigation and overflight in the waters.-VNA