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

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (F) and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe (Photo: VNA)

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

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 Viet Nam 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.

PM Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (F) and PM John Key (Photo: VNA)

He asked New Zealand to facilitate market access for Viet Nam’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.

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

(Source: VNA)