Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc held phone talks with President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte on May 26 to discuss bilateral and regional cooperation amid COVID-19 pandemic.
The PM told the Philippine leader that the Vietnamese Government, people and businesses have entered a new normal period following the pandemic.
He highlighted the significance of international cooperation in the current context, thanked the Philippines and President Duterte for making active contributions to the success of the online ASEAN Summit and ASEAN 3 Summit on COVID-19 Response held on April 14.
The Vietnamese leader spoke highly of the Philippines’ initial success in mitigating the impact of the pandemic, and thanked its Government for creating favourable conditions for two flights carrying nearly 400 Vietnamese citizens home over the recent past.
Duterte, for his part, hailed Vietnam as an effective example in the fight against COVID-19.
He highly valued Vietnam’s leading role in its capacity as the ASEAN Chair 2020 in the cohesive and responsive spirit, and lauded the country’s efforts and initiatives in pandemic prevention and control, including the establishment of a fund for COVID-19 response and a regional medical equipment warehouse.
The two leaders agreed to enhance bilateral substantive ties, improve the efficiency of cooperation in diverse areas via the effective implementation of the Action Programme to realise bilateral strategic partnership and regular maintenance of cooperation mechanisms, especially the ministerial-level Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation.
PM Phuc proposed that the two countries should further lift two-way trade and limit the imposition of trade barrier measures, adding Vietnam is ready to be a long-term supplier of rice to the Philippines at competitive prices.
Duterte thanked Vietnam for helping the Philippines ensure food security, and agreed that both sides will offer humanitarian treatment to each other’s fishermen in the spirit of traditional friendship and mutual trust.
The two sides pledged to offer mutual support at multilateral forums.
The Philippine leader vowed to continue working closely with and support Vietnam in successfully undertaking the role of the ASEAN Chair 2020 and a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council during the 2020-2021 tenure.
The Vietnamese PM spoke highly of the Philippines’ role and contributions in its capacity as the coordinator of the ASEAN – China relationship.
The two leaders stressed the importance of further enhancing solidarity, maintaining ASEAN’s common stance on the East Sea issue, accelerating negotiations to reach a quality Code of Conduct in the East Sea in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, contributing to the keeping of peace, stability and security in the region./.
