Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung meets with ASEAN leaders.

On the sidelines of the 22nd ASEAN Summit held in Brunei, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung held bilateral meetings with Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung poses for a commemorative photo with ASEAN leaders.
(Photo by Thanh Chung)

During the meeting between Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, the two leaders highly appreciated the positive development of cooperation between the two countries in various fields, especially the rapid increase in bilateral trade, which reached nearly 3 billion USD in 2012. Cooperation in maritime and ocean affairs between Vietnam and the Philippines has also been strengthened through the establishment of the Joint Committee on Maritime and Ocean Issues at the Deputy Foreign Minister level; many bilateral agreements have come into effect, creating conditions to further promote cooperation between the two countries.

In light of recent complex developments in the South China Sea, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Philippine President Benigno Aquino III agreed that ASEAN and other countries need to strengthen efforts to maintain peace, stability, and maritime security; peacefully resolve disputes; and adhere to international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung requested that the President of the Philippines ask the Philippine judicial authorities to promptly release the 24 Vietnamese fishermen. President Benigno Aquino III acknowledged the request and promised to consider it positively.

Meeting with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung expressed his pleasure at the increasingly developing friendly relations and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries in all fields. The two Prime Ministers agreed to instruct relevant ministries and agencies to continue promoting and finalizing the content of the strategic partnership to be submitted to the high-level leaders of the two countries.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung highly appreciated Thailand's active coordinating role in ASEAN-China relations; affirming that Vietnam always supports and is ready to cooperate with Thailand to successfully fulfill its role in the 2012-2015 period, promoting ASEAN-China negotiations on the Code of Conduct (COC).

During his meeting with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung affirmed his intention to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore next May. The Prime Minister expressed his hope to welcome the Singaporean Prime Minister on an official visit to Vietnam next September and anticipates that the two countries will issue a joint statement upgrading their relationship to a strategic partnership.

Both sides also agreed to coordinate the organization of practical and meaningful activities to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries; to continue close cooperation in regional and international forums, especially within the framework of ASEAN and the United Nations; and to share the view that it is necessary to maintain peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, resolving disputes peacefully on the basis of respect for international law.

According to (vov.vn) - LT