ISE-SHIMA– Việt Nam hopes that G7 countries and multilateral organisations will continue to assist the country and other Mekong nations in managing and protecting water resources, and improving their capacity to adapt to climate change, said Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc.  

The Vietnamese leader made the call while addressing the first working session of the expanded G7 Summit in Ise-Shima, in Japan’s Mie prefecture, yesterday.

He reiterated Việt Nam’s commitment to realising the Paris Agreement which was reached at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

"Việt Nam appreciates the “Partnership for Quality Infrastructure in Asia” and the “Japan-Mekong Connectivity” initiatives launched by Japan, and welcomes the support provided by other G7 member countries, including the US and the Friends of the Lower Mekong for sustainable development in the Mekong River basin through a new initiative on the Sustainable Infrastructure Programme," he said.

Welcoming issues raised at the Summit’s agenda, the PM said the matters were crucial and urgent to peace, stability and sustainable development in Asia-Pacific and the world at large.

“We are well aware that peace and development in Việt Nam is closely linked with peace and prosperity in the world. Contributing to handling regional and global challenges is the responsibility and in the interest of each country, regardless of its development status,” he said.

Phúc also applauded Japan’s efforts in ensuring peace, stability and development in the Middle East, health care and gender equality, along with the country’s efforts in assisting Africa.

He underlined that prosperity and sustainable development in Việt Nam, Asia and the world may be ensured only in a peaceful and stable environment.

The leader highlighted increasingly complex challenges to regional peace, including maritime and aviation security, safety and freedom in the East Sea.

Unilateral activities that go against international law and regional agreements such as the large-scale reclamation of man-made islands and militarisation seriously threatened regional peace and stability, he said.

The situation requires concerned parties to show restraint and address disputes by peaceful measures in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, enhance trust-building measures and preventive diplomacy and work towards a Code of Conduct in the East Sea, according to the Vietnamese leader.

Together with ASEAN, Việt Nam welcomes G7 nations to raise their voices in support of maritime and overflight security and freedom, as well as the peaceful settlement of disputes on the basis of international law.

The expanded G7 summit saw the participation of leaders from G7 members – Japan, the US, the UK, France, Germany, Canada and Italy – along with representatives from the EU, and invited guests, including leaders from Việt Nam, Indonesia, Laos, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea and international organisations such as the United Nations, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the Asian Development Bank.

The expanded G7 event includes two sessions focusing on high-quality infrastructure, regional security, women’s rights, health care, the 2030 Agenda and sustainable development goals, and co-operation with Africa.

Sidelines meetings

TOKYO – Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc yesterday met several foreign leaders on the sidelines of the expanded G7 Summit in Japan’s Mie Prefecture, affirming that the Vietnamese Government is determined to deepen economic ties with partners.

PM Phúc met French President Francois Hollande on the same day on the sidelines of the expanded G7 Summit.

The PM expressed delight at the president’s upcoming visit to Việt Nam, which he said would help create new momentum for the strategic partnership between Việt Nam and France.

He thanked France for its effective assistance in development co-operation with Việt Nam and wished that both countries would improve their mechanisms for exchanging and coordinating economic and national defence-security efforts. He also urged more investment across the sectors of infrastructure, transport, energy, aerospace aviation, agriculture, food processing, pharmaceuticals and green industries.

Phúc said he hoped that France would support Việt Nam to gain access to the World Bank’s International Development Assistance (IDA) beyond 2017.

President Hollande praised contributions made by the Vietnamese community in France to the nation’s development in particular, and to relations between the two countries in general.

The two leaders agreed to enact measures to double two-way trade turnover between Việt Nam and France and increase co-operation to effectively implement the Paris Agreement adopted at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Meeting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, PM Phúc urged Canada to offer technical assistance to Việt Nam to improve its enforcement of the Trans-Pacific Partnership and encourage Canadian firms to invest in Việt Nam.

Canadian PM Trudeau promised continued support to Vietnam, including its bid for selection as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020-2021, as well as favourable conditions for Vietnamese nationals living in Canada.

In separate meetings with President of the European Commission Jean Claude Juncker and President of the European Council Donald Tusk, the Vietnamese leader asked the EU to offer technical assistance to Việt Nam to carry out the recently-adopted Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.

The two sides spoke highly of the conclusion of EU-Việt Nam free trade agreement negotiations and pledged to work jointly to materialise the deal.

Earlier, the PM met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, UK PM David Cameron, US President Barack Obama, Italian PM Matteo Renzi and President of the World Bank Jim Yong-kim.

Merkel backed Việt Nam’s proposal to delay its IDA graduation and promised to visit Việt Nam at a convenient time.

Expressing concern over drought and saltwater intrusion in Việt Nam, Cameron committed to directing the UK embassy to consider specific projects in support of victims in the country.

US President Obama thanked the Vietnamese people and the PM for their hospitality and warm reception during his recent visit and said he would speak of Việt Nam’s considerable progress with G7 countries on the occasion.

WB President Jim Yong Kim described Việt Nam as a top priority in accessing preferential IDA, adding that he is willing to help Việt Nam with the use of renewable energy, particularly wind and solar energy.

The Italian PM appreciated Việt Nam’s stature in the region and wished to boost bilateral economic ties, partly by facilitating and doubling Italian investment in the country.

During the meetings, PM Phúc also lauded the countries’ and organisations’ support for Việt Nam and ASEAN’s stance on the peaceful settlement of East Sea disputes in line with international law, thus ensuring security, safety, maritime and aviation freedom. - VNS