(VOVworld)- The Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte began an official visit to Vietnam from September 28 to 29 at the invitation of President Tran Dai Quang.
After a welcoming ceremony on Thursday, the two Presidents held talks to discuss the development of their countries’ bilateral friendship and cooperation over the last 40 years. The two leaders agreed to strengthen political diplomacy through increasing exchanges of visits and contacts at various levels and work together to celebrate the 40
th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.
The two Presidents said security and national defense cooperation were among the main pillars of the bilateral strategic partnership, stressed the need to maintain policy dialogue at the deputy defense ministerial level, enhance training cooperation, and share their experiences in participating in UN peace keeping missions. They discussed bilateral cooperation in the seas and ocean, agriculture, transport, culture, tourism, and education. They affirmed their mutual support for the Philippines’ Chairmanship of ASEAN 2017 and Vietnam’s Chairmanship of APEC 2017 and pledged to work with other ASEAN countries to boost the ASEAN Community.
In regard to the East Sea issue, they pledged to maintain and promote peace, security, stability, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight, and unobstructed trade in the region, especially in the East Sea. They called on the involved parties to practice restraint, and not to threaten to use or use force, fully respect diplomatic and legal procedures, and settle disputes by peaceful means, on the basis of international law including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
During his visit, the Filipino President paid courtesy visits to Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong, and also met Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and a delegation of Vietnamese businesses. President Tran Dai Quang also held a banquette in honor of his Filipino guests.