Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (L) and his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock. (Photo: VNA) Berlin (VNA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son paid anofficial visit to Germany from September 26-27 at the invitation of his German counterpartAnnalena Baerbock.
During the visit, Son heldtalks with Baerbock, paid courtesy calls to German President Frank-WalterSteinmeier, President of the Federal Council Bodo Ramelow, Minister-Presidentof Hessen state Boris Rhein, State Secretaryat the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action MichaelKellner.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. (Photo: VNA) During the meetings, Son affirmed that Vietnam alwaystreasures the strategic partnership with Germany. He suggested both sides expand cooperationto further deepen contents of the bilateral strategic partnership.
The minister thanked the Government and people of Germany for providing Vietnam with COVID-19 vaccine and medical equipment, thus helping Vietnam early contain the pandemic and resume socio-economic activities.
Germanleaders described Vietnam as an important partner of Germany in Southeast Asiaand Asia-Pacific. They once again thanked the Vietnamese Government and peoplefor offering masks to Germany when the COVID-19 broke out in 2020.
President Frank-Walter Steinmeier conveyed his regards toPresident Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Vietnamese leaders and expressed wish to visitVietnam soon.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son holds talks with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock. (Photo: VNA) Abouteconomic-trade ties, the Vietnamese minister proposed the two sides continue to effectively implement theEU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). He hoped that the German Parliamentwill soon complete the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment ProtectionAgreement and the German Government will support the early removal of the European Commission’s yellow card warning on Vietnam’s aquatic products for export, thusfacilitating bilateral trade and investment activities.
Bothsides agreed to intensify coordination in new fields such as climate changeresponse and renewable energy, contributing to seriously and fully deliveringon commitments at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) as well as dealing with global issues.
President Steinmeier and President of the Federal Council Ramelowsaid both sides still hold potential of cooperation in Germany’s strong fields such as sci-tech, environment protection, climate change response, vocationaltraining, labour and locality-to-locality cooperation. They also vowed totackle difficulties in bilateral trade.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son meets representatives of the Vietnamese community. (Photo: VNA) Onregional and global issues of shared concern, hosts and guest consented thatthe two countries will continue effectively working together and offeringmutual support at multilateral organisations and forums, including cultivatingASEAN-EU ties.
Regardingthe East Sea issue, they shared a stance on ensuring peace, stability, security,cooperation and development in the region, settling disputes by peaceful meansin line with international law and the UN Charter, particularly the 1982 UNConvention on the Law of the Sea.
Sonwished that Germany would create more conditions for the Vietnamese community tointegrate into the host country, thus contributing to German socio-economic development and the Vietnam-Germany ties.
During the visit, the FM had a working session with the Vietnamese embassy and met with representatives from the Vietnamese community in the European country./.
