Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc held talks on Monday afternoon with visiting Filipino Secretary of Foreign Affairs Jose Rene Almendras in Hanoi to discuss cooperation between the two nations.

PM Phuc considered the visit of Secretary Almendras living proof of Vietnam and the Philippines’ intention to boost their extensive and comprehensive ties.

This year also marks the 40-year anniversary of the partnership between the two countries, from July 12, 1976 to July 12, 2016, according to the premier.

He recommended that the two parties focus on coordinating in defense and security, based on the highly regarded accomplishments of Vietnam and the Philippines in both fields.

The Vietnamese head of government also looked forward to the upcoming visit of Filipino Secretary of National Defense Voltaire Gazmin, expressing his hope to focus on solving mutual challenges, including maritime security, natural disasters, food safety, anti-terrorism, and others.

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh convened a meeting with Secretary Almendras on the same day, conferring about measures to realize the strategic partnership between Vietnam and the Philippines, which was established in November last year.

Aside from the bilateral cooperation, the two nations have been increasingly discussing regional and international issues.

Vietnam and the Philippines have also expressed their mutual support for the successful chairing of the latter at the 2017 ASEAN Summit and the former at the 2017 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC).

ASEAN is short for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which is a political and economic organization whose members include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The two nations also committed to cooperate with other member states of the organization for a successful ASEAN Community, and to strengthen the role of ASEAN in regional cooperation and its voice in matters regarding strategic security, peace, stability, and development. 

In terms of the disputes in the East Vietnam Sea, Hanoi and Manila have reiterated the significance of international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Vietnam Sea (DOC).

The two supported the peaceful settlement and negotiation of differences, opposing any activities that escalate disputes as well as the use of violence.

Hanoi and Manila highlighted the essential role of ASEAN in the preservation of peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of aviation and navigation in the East Vietnam Sea.

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