Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh (L) meets with Deputy PM and Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith on Saturday in Vientiane. — VNA/VNS Photo

VIENTIANE — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh held bilateral meetings with the Foreign Ministers of Singapore, Indonesia, Laos and Brunei on the sidelines of the 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Vientiane.
Minh and Singaporean FM Vivian Balakrisnan both expressed yesterday pleasure at the development of the two countries’ strategic partnership, sharing the belief that the upcoming State-level visit of President Trần Đại Quang to Singapore will help lift bilateral ties to a higher level.
They agreed to co-ordinate closely to make preparations for the important visit.
FM Vivian Balakrisnan affirmed that Singapore wants to enhance its partnership with Việt Nam in developing innovation economics, enhancing economic connectivity and promoting digital economy.
The two sides agreed to continue with long-term economic projects while hailing the importance of the Việt Nam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) scheme. They added that the VSIP plan should give priority to new technology and connectivity with startup projects. The Singaporean side said government officials would attend the celebration of VSIP Bình Dương’s 20th anniversary on August 7 and 8.
Việt Nam and Singapore vowed to continue co-ordinating within the ASEAN framework and at regional and international forums, as well as to strengthen ASEAN solidarity and maintain the bloc’s central role in the region so as to ensure peace, stability, co-operation and development.
The same day, Deputy PM Minh and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi agreed to push forward with measures to improve the effectiveness of bilateral relations, increase mutual visits and enhance the efficiency of co-operative mechanisms.
They saw eye to eye on the need to promote marine co-operation; accordingly the two sides will accelerate their negotiations on delimiting exclusive economic zones.
The Deputy PM and Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith on Saturday agreed at their meeting to push forward with the implementation of agreements reached during visits by the two countries’ leaders, as well as the outcomes of the 38th meeting of the Inter-Government Committee on Bilateral Co-operation.
They promised to co-ordinate activities to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties and the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Việt Nam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Co-operation this year.
In another meeting with Brunei Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Lim Jock Seng on Saturday, Deputy PM Minh said Việt Nam would work closely with Brunei to ensure the success of the upcoming Brunei visit by President Trần Đại Quang.
The two sides committed to convening the Việt Nam-Brunei Joint Committee on Bilateral Co-operation this year in order to promptly carry out the outcomes of the visit, thus contributing to further deepening bilateral ties.

The Brunei side pledged to consider Việt Nam’s proposal on facilitating Vietnamese businesses access to the Brunei market and enhancing energy and oil and gas co-operation by making it easier for PetroVietnam to supply oil and gas services in Brunei or co-operate with Brunei partners to operate in a third country. — VNS