Vietnam-Germany Strategic Management Group meets

Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and State Secretary of the German Foreign Ministry Markus Ederer co-chaired the third meeting of the Vietnam-Germany Strategic Management Group during the former’s visit to Germany from September 13-14.

The group is a regular dialogue mechanism to speed up the implementation of a strategic action plan built on the basis of the Joint Statement on the Vietnam-Germany Strategic Partnership in October 2011.

At the meeting, both sides agreed that the two countries’ relations have developed significantly over the past years. They discussed ways to accelerate the implementation of major cooperation plans and projects in the time ahead, especially in politics, trade, investment, education-training and science-technology.

Vietnam welcomed Germany’s initiative to expand activities of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam so as to tighten connectivity and support the two countries’ businesses in studying and seeking business and investment opportunities.

Germany pledged to maintain the provision of official development assistance for Vietnam from 2015-2017 with a focus on energy, vocational training mixed with sustainable economic development, environmental policies and the sustainable use of natural resources.

Both officials appreciated activities to celebrate the 40th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties (September 23, 1975-2015). They agreed to intensify high-level delegation exchanges to enhance political ties and the time-honoured friendship in order to further develop the bilateral strategic partnership.

The two sides welcomed the completion of negotiations on the Vietnam-European Union free trade agreement and vowed to work towards the signing of the agreement in order to benefit the business communities.

The German side committed to supporting Vietnam in strengthening all around relations with the EU while encouraging EU countries to soon ratify the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and recognise Vietnam’s market economy status.

During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Regarding the East Sea, Germany reaffirmed the stance of EU countries and the Group of Seven (G7) opposing the use of force and unilateral actions that change the status quo and complicate the situation, while backing the settlement of disputes by peaceful means with respect to international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea.-VNA