Foreign Minister holds bilateral meetings in Bangkok
Bangkok (VNA) – Vietnamese Minister of Foreign
Affairs Bui Thanh Son met bilaterally with French Minister for Europe and
Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna and Foreign Minister of Papua New Guinea Justin
Tkatchenko in Bangkok on November 18, on the occasion of the ongoing APEC
Economic Leaders’ Week 2022.
Meeting French Minister
Catherine Colonna, Son said since the upgrade of bilateral ties to strategic partnership
nearly a decade ago, Vietnam and France have seen their ties growing in various
areas.
Hailing the developments of bilateral
cultural-education and health cooperation over the past years, he thanked the
French Government and people for their valuable support for Vietnam during
COVID-19 pandemic.
He suggested the two
countries discuss and effectively adopt measures to deepen their effective collaboration
post pandemic, facilitate all-level visits, especially during next year when the two
countries celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the
10th anniversary of strategic partnership.
Describing economic
cooperation as an important pillar of bilateral strategic partnership, Son
proposed France soon approve the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement
(EVIPA) to fully tap the two countries’ potential.
The FM spoke highly of
France’s role and voice in the international arena as well as the two countries' coordination at
region and global forums like the United Nations, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), ASEAN-EU framework, and
the Francophone Community.
Colonna, for her part, highly
valued Vietnam’s role and position in Indo-Pacific and wished to work more
closely with Vietnam in the near future amid global uncertainties.
She affirmed that French
firms are interested in investing in Vietnam in fields of their strength such
as green and digital technology, and clean energy.
The minister wished to visit
Vietnam soon to discuss specific measures to boost bilateral ties in all areas,
especially economy-trade, culture, defence, education, tourism, and science-technology.
Talking with Minister Justin Tkatchenko,
Son asserted that Vietnam is ready to share socio-economic development experience
with Papua New Guinea and reinforce coordination in fields of shared concern.
Tkatchenko said Papua New
Guinea considers ties with Vietnam strategic in the coming time and wishes to
soon open a representative diplomatic agency in the Southeast Asian nation to
enhance relations, particularly in economy-trade-investment, farm produce processing,
aquaculture, mining, liquefied natural gas and locality-to-locality
cooperation.
He wished to acquire Vietnam’s
experience in industrialisation and modernisation, and attract more Vietnam investors to his country.
Both sides agreed to step up
all-level visits as well as trade and investment promotion activities, and implement
the Memorandum of Understanding on fisheries cooperation, including establishing
a Joint Technical Committee on Fisheries Cooperation, issuing more mechanisms
and signing several deals to lay legal foundation for collaboration such as
investment promotion and protection, double taxation avoidance, oil and gas.
They pledged to continue strengthening
cooperation within the framework of the United Nations, APEC and regional and
international forums.
Papua New Guinea supports ASEAN's and Vietnam’s
stance and efforts in the settlement of disputes in the East Sea by peaceful
means in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the
Law of the Sea, Tkatchenko said.
Son affirmed that Vietnam stands ready to
serve as a bridge promoting ties between Papua New Guinea and ASEAN. He also
wished Papua New Guinea would cultivate ties between Vietnam and Pacific island
nations./.