Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Vương Đình Huệ (left) presents a souvenir to Speaker of the Philippine House of Representatives Ferdinand Martin Romualdez. — VNA/VNS Photo Doãn Tấn

JAKARTA — Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vương Đình Huệ had a meeting on August 6 with Speaker of the Philippine House of Representatives Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, on the occasion of the 44th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-44) held in Jakarta.

Huệ highlighted the robust development in all fields of the Việt Nam-Philippines strategic partnership, especially in high-level contacts.

The two leaders agreed to boost the bilateral ties in a more substantive manner, particularly in economics, trade and investment, and to strive to bring two-way trade to soon hit US$10 billion.

In the context of the current complicated world situation, Huệ suggested Việt Nam and the Philippines cooperate in developing supply chains and facilitate the import of Việt Nam's key products such as rice and construction materials, and enhance collaboration in digital transformation and energy transition.

The two sides agreed to continue promoting cooperation between the two parliaments, and stepping up the exchange of delegations as well as the sharing of experience in parliamentary activities.

They will also continue cooperation and mutual support within the multilateral framework; back each other's initiatives at the AIPA; and work together to further strengthen ASEAN's solidarity, strength and centrality, and maintain a common voice in regional security issues, including the East Sea (known internationally as the South China Sea) issue.

Huệ proposed the Philippine parliament send a delegation to the 9th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians to be held in Hà Nội. The Speaker of the Philippine lower house confirmed that he will do.

The Vietnamese top legislator took the occasion to invite the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate to visit Việt Nam. Ferdinand Martin accepted the invitation, adding that he would visit Việt Nam at an appropriate time. — VNS