Bonn (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister and ForeignMinister Pham Binh Minh reiterated Vietnam’s wish to strengthen ties with theUK, the US and Brazil during his separate meetings with the foreign ministersof the countries in Bonn, Germany, on February 17.

The meetings took place on the sidelines of theG20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, which Vietnam was invited to participate in asthe host of the APEC Year 2017.

Talking to UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson,Minh highlighted progress in the Vietnam-UK strategic partnership, particularlyin economics, trade and investment. He welcomed the initiative of establishingan informal dialogue mechanism to discuss measures for facilitating bilateraltrade in the context of the UK’s upcoming negotiations on its exit from the EU.

Johnson affirmed that his country will keepstrengthening multi-faceted cooperation with Vietnam and continue to supportthe enhancement of relations, connectivity and trade liberalisation betweenVietnam and Europe.

The two sides agreed to coordinate for the effectiveorganisation of activities marking the 45th anniversary of their diplomaticties in 2018, especially the exchange of high-ranking delegations and thepartnership in economics, trade, investment, education, training and tourism.

Minh asked the UK to increase scholarships forVietnam to help with the training of high-quality manpower.

The officials noted with satisfaction the outcomesof the cooperation in organising the Hanoi Conference on Illegal Wildlife Tradein November 2016, agreeing to continue fostering collaboration in this field inthe following years.

They also discussed international and regionalissues of common concern, sharing the view on the importance of maintainingpeace, stability, freedom, security and safety of navigation and aviation;protecting the rule of law in seas and oceans; and resolving disputes bypeaceful means on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UNConvention on the Law of the Sea.

At a meeting with US Secretary of State RexTillerson, Deputy PM Minh spoke highly of Tillerson’s knowledge about andcontribution to promoting economic, trade and investment ties between the twocountries. 

Both officials noted positive and substantivestrides in all aspects in the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership.

Minh emphasised that Vietnam treasures and wantsto reinforce the friendship, cooperation and comprehensive partnership with theUS on the basis of respect for each other’s political regime, thereby meetingthe two peoples’ interests.

The diplomats agreed that the two countries needto maintain high-level delegation exchanges and visits.

The Deputy PM repeated Vietnamese leaders’invitation to US President Donald Trump to attend the APEC Economic Leaders’Meeting and dialogues with businesses in Da Nang city this November. He alsotook this occasion to invite Tillerson to visit Vietnam in the near future.

For his part, Tillerson also expressed hiswillingness to visit Vietnam and participate in activities within the frameworkof the APEC Vietnam 2017.

Sharing the understanding on the significance ofmaintaining and promoting peace, stability and development in the region, theofficials also exchanged views on international and regional issues of commonconcern.

Meanwhile, Deputy PM Minh told Brazilian ForeignMinister José Serra that Vietnam attaches importance to the amity andmulti-faceted cooperation with Brazil, which is the biggest Latin Americantrade partner of Vietnam.

The two sides agreed on the need to continueincreasing delegation exchanges at all levels, especially between high-rankingofficials, in order to consolidate the growing political ties. They also agreedto hold the third meeting of the inter-governmental committee and maintain thepolitical consultation between the two foreign ministries.

The two officials looked into measures tobolster affiliation in certain spheres, including urging their foreignministries to work to hasten the signing of cooperation documents on such areasas double taxation avoidance, shipping, education, agriculture, defence,tourism and investment. 

Those documents will create a favourable legalframework for economic, trade and investment partnership, towards the tradetarget of 10 billion USD by 2020, they said.

Minh also asked the Brazilian Government to soonrecognise Vietnam’s market economy.

At the meeting, the diplomats also mulled overways to intensify coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums,especially the United Nations.-VNA