Vietnam, Philippines look to ratchet up cooperation

They had a bilateral meeting in Manila on April 29 on the sidelines of the 30th ASEAN Summit.

The two leaders expressed their pleasure at the growing strategic partnership over the past time and agreed to increase all-level delegation exchange.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) meets with President of the Philippines Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

President Duterte said he attaches great importance to the friendship with Vietnam and welcomes President Tran Dai Quang to pay an official visit to the Philippines in 2017.

He thanked Vietnam for its readiness to provide rice for the Philippines in the long run.

The President said he will spare no effort to push the completion of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea, or South China Sea, (COC) with practical and feasible contents in line with international law.

PM Phuc took this occasion to invite President Duterte to join the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting 2017 in Vietnam as Chair of ASEAN, and hoped the Philippines will support Vietnam’s initiatives proposed for the APEC Year 2017.

He also thanked President Duterte for releasing 17 Vietnamese fishermen in November 2016.

On April 29 evening, the PM left Manila to wrap up his trip to the Philippines where he partook in the 30th ASEAN Summit from April 28-29 at the invitation of President Duterte.

Source: VNA