(VOVworld) - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh met High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini in Ulan Balor, Mongolia, Thursday.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini (photo: VGP/Quang Hieu)

The Deputy Prime Minister, who is accompanying Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to attend the 11^th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit, suggested the EU promptly sign and approve the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement and effectively realise the Vietnam-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. Mogherini spoke highly of Vietnam’s role in the region and noted that the EU will continue its foreign policy of valuing the strengthening of ties with Vietnam and ASEAN.

On the East Sea issue, both sides underscored the need to maintain peace, stability, and maritime and overflight freedom, safety and security in the East Sea, settle disputes by peaceful means in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and fully realise the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea towards the early formulation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.