Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on Friday attended ASEAN+1 meetings between ASEAN and China, Japan and the Republic of Korea in Bali, Indonesia. The partners reiterated their respect for the relationship with ASEAN and pledged continued support for the bloc to build an ASEAN Community and Connectivity and to maintain its key role in the region. Foreign Ministers of ASEAN and the Republic of Korea signed an agreement on forest cooperation. The agreement will create important legal framework for the protection of forest and environmental protection, as well as adaptation to climate change. At the signing ceremony, ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan spoke highly of the signed agreement in the context of severe floods ravaging many member countries. This year, the Republic of Korea and ASEAN have implemented 9 cooperative projects, including a 100,000 USD project with Vietnam.

On the sidelines of the ASEAN summit on Friday, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung met with his Thai counterpart Yingluck Shinawatra. He conveyed his sympathy for human and property losses due to recent floods in Thai provinces and the capital city of Bangkok. Mr. Dung expressed his belief  that the Thai people will soon overcome the natural disaster, saying the Vietnamese people are willing to do anything they can to assist Thailand. The two Prime Ministers expressed their delight over the flourishing bilateral ties since the establishment of their diplomatic relations 30 years ago. The leaders agreed on the need to promote bilateral relations in many areas, especially in trade and rice exports, and arrange for cabinet meetings in the near future.  

Thanh Chung