(VOVworld) – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung left Milan, Italy on Saturday after attending the 10th ASEM Summit to begin a visit to the Vatican. This is Prime Minister Dung’s second visit to the Vatican, which is aimed at promoting bilateral ties.
Earlier, the ASEM Summit released a Chair’s Statement, which conveyed ASEM leaders’ determination to improve Asia-Europe relations. The leaders approved 27 new initiatives, including 3 from Vietnam on a workshop on sustainable water resource management for food security, a youth week appealing for stronger action to deal with poverty challenge, and a conference on green skills towards comprehensive and sustainable growth.
Prime Minister Dung held a number of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit. During talks with Myanmar President U Thein Sein, he called on the two sides to implement reached agreements focusing on 12 priority areas in the spirit of the Joint Statement on Myanmar-Vietnam cooperation signed in April 2014. He asked Myanmar to create favorable conditions for Vietnamese businesses and investors. The two leaders agreed to organize the 8th meeting of the Vietnam-Myanmar Joint Committee and quickly sign an agreement on investment encouragement and protection. They agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation at regional and global forums, particularly ASEAN and the UN as well as other sub-regional cooperative mechanisms. The two agreed to promote unity and enhance ASEAN’s central role in the regional structure, contributing to peace, stability, and aviation and maritime security and safety.
During talks with Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the two sides discussed ways to bolster bilateral ties. The Thai Prime Minister called for preferential policies for investors, trade exchanges, and labor cooperation. He said Thailand will continue to work closely with Vietnam and other ASEAN countries to build a united ASEAN Community. Thailand as coordinator of ASEAN-China relations will help to implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and practical negotiations towards adopting a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung also held talks with Mongolian President Tsakhia Elbegdorj, Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev, and Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg.