(VOV) - Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung met with his Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott in Brunei this morning, on the sidelines of the 23rd ASEAN Summit, to discuss ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperative relations.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott (Photo: VGP)

 
PM Dung said Vietnam wants to promote cooperation for mutual benefit and common development. He suggested both sides accelerate negotiations for an early signing of an agreement on mutual judicial assistance and asked Australia to facilitate access to its market for Vietnam’s agro-fishery products. PM Dung called on Australia to continue backing ASEAN on the East Sea issue and the settlement of disputes by peaceful measures in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Mr Abbot said Australia hopes to promote its comprehensive partnership with Vietnam, especially in security-defence, economics, development assistance, education-training, the application of science and technology, and environment management. He added that the two sides should continue working closely together at international forums and in the fields of maritime security, trust building, conflict prevention, and humanitarian aid.