Prime Minister meets Japanese and NZ counterparts

Vientiane (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had fringe meetings with his Japanese and New Zealand counterparts on September 7 at the 28th & 29th ASEAN Summits and related meetings now underway in Vientiane.

Japanese PM Shinzo Abe affirmed that Japan will continue to help Vietnam achieve sustainable development and provide Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Vietnam, including a project on climate change adaptation and another on infrastructure at Hoa Lac Hi-tech Park.
He also pledged to encourage Japanese hi-tech firms to invest in Vietnam.

Both the Vietnamese and Japanese PMs expressed concern about recent complicated developments in the region and underlined the importance of maintaining peace, security and cooperation in the East Sea.

They stressed the rule of law and the settlement of disputes by peaceful measures in line with international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS), and reached a consensus that the two countries will intensify joint efforts towards those goals.

Meeting with PM John Key, PM Phuc proposed Vietnam and New Zealand develop detailed plans to implement their comprehensive partnership in all areas in the next 3-5 years, with priority given to economic-trade-investment cooperation.

He asked New Zealand to facilitate market access for Vietnam’s agricultural products, first of all fruits such as rambutan, star apple and grapefruit, by relaxing quarantine and food safety standards for Vietnamese agro-fishery products.

The PM also proposed that New Zealand grant more scholarships to Vietnamese students and allow more Vietnamese workers under the working holiday scheme.

PM John Key said New Zealand is willing to help Vietnam with experience and technology to develop food, processing and dairy industries, and took note of Vietnam’s request on market access.

The two government leaders shared the view on the importance of maintaining peace, security and cooperation in the East Sea, settling disputes by peaceful means on the basis of respect for international law and the 1982 UNCLOS, and pledged to coordinate efforts to achieve those targets.-VNA