Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) and Cambodian PM Samdech Techo Hun Sen (Photo: VNA) Jakarta (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham MinhChinh held separate meetings with his Cambodian, Singaporean and Malaysiancounterparts on April 24, on the occasion of the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting inJakarta.
In the meeting withCambodian PM Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Chinh affirmed that Vietnam alwaystreasures and gives the top priority to consolidating the fine neighborliness,traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Cambodia.
He stressed that Vietnamalways stays ready to assist Cambodia to prevent the pandemic. Insuch spirit, Vietnam provided 500,000 USD together with 800 respirators, 2million medical masks and 300,000 N-95 masks for Cambodia.
Chinh suggested Cambodiacontinue offering support to the Vietnamese community in the country,especially in handling legal documents to help them stabilise lives.
Hun Sen, for his part, affirmed that Cambodiahighly values its traditional friendship and neighbourliness with Vietnam. Hethanked Vietnam for offering valuable material and experience support toCambodia to fight the pandemic.
Despite the pandemic, two-way trade betweenVietnam and Cambodia doubled to 2.69 billion USD in the first half of thisyear.
The two PMs agreed to work closely together tomonitor border areas and conduct vaccination to the two nations’ citizens.They hailed the exchange of two legal documents approving 84 percent of borderdemarcation and consented to do the remaining work in the near future.
The Vietnamese PM proposed Cambodia support Vietnam’s launchof a centre on emerging diseases and medical contingencies.
They vowed to work withother ASEAN member states to step up negotiations on a Code of Conduct in theEast Sea in line with international law and the 1982 United Nations Conventionon the Law of the Sea.
PM Pham Minh Chinh (R) and Singaporean PM Lee Hsien Loong (Photo: VNA) In his talks with Singaporean PM Lee HsienLoong, Chinh noted Singapore is the biggest investor in Vietnam in 2020 andearly 2021.
He suggested hastening negotiations on apriority travel mechanism in a flexible manner, soon resuming commercialflights, and promoting bilateral economic and tourism links. He asked Singapore tocontinue providing short- and mid-term scholarships for Vietnam, including trainingat Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
Lee, for his part, expressed his wish to fosterclose ties with Chinh to promote Vietnam – Singapore strategtic partnership,and also agreed with Chinh’s proposals.
The two PMs pledged to continue boostingbilateral ties at regional and global forums, especially at ASEAN and theAsia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). Both sides will complete the ratificationand effective implementation of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement forTrans-Pacific Partnership, maintain ASEAN’s stance on the East Sea issue,and support ASEAN’s role in the settlement of Myanmar issue, contributing to peace,stability, cooperation in the region.
PM Chinh welcomed the upcoming Vietnam visit by the Singaporean Foreign Ministerto attend the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) high-levelpolicy dialogue scheduled for next month, and invited Lee to visit Vietnam. TheSingaporean PM accepted the invitation with pleasure and also invited Chinh toSingapore.
PM Pham Minh Chinh meets Malaysian PM Muhyiddin Yassin (Photo: VNA)
In the conversation with Malaysian PM Muhyiddin Yassin,Chinh wished to reinforce ties with Malaysia in bilateral and multilateral frameworks.
Yassin said he believes thatwith achievements in pandemic control, socio-economic stability and success inexternal relations, Vietnam will reap further successes insocio-economic development, thus improving its stature in the region and theworld.
The two PMs promised to expand bilateralcoordination in various fields in the near future, including maintainingall-level exchanges, both online and offline. The two countries will also holdthe sixth meeting of the Vietnam – Malaysia Inter-Committee for Economic andScientific-Technological Cooperation, and the fourth meeting of the Trade JointCommittee, towards raising two-way trade to 15 billion USD.
The two sides pledged to offer mutual supportwithin the ASEAN framework and at regional and global forums, continue upholdingASEAN’s role in the East Sea issue, seriously abide by the Declaration on theConduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and soon reach a practical andeffective COC in accordance with international law and the 1982 UNCLOS.
Onthe sidelines of the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting, heads of delegations of Laos,Thailand, the Philippines and Myanmar also paid courtesy calls to PM Chinh, andwished that he would continue boosting bilateral ties./.
