MANILA- Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc met with his Malaysian counterpart, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yesterday after arriving in Manila for the 30th ASEAN summit.

The two leaders expressed their pleasure at the development of the strategic partnership between the two countries and agreed to foster multifaceted co-operation.

They also committed to expand bilateral trade to US$20 billion in 2020 from US$11 billion.

At Phúc’s request, Najib Razak said Malaysia would foster co-operation in food production for Muslim people and consider hiring more Vietnamese workers in areas where there is demand for such labour.

He also pledged that legal proceedings against Vietnamese citizen Đoàn Thị Hương would be conducted in a fair and legal manner.

On the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP) and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), he said: "We agree that RCEP negotiations should be continued until it is finalised. Apart from that, 11 other TPP countries are discussing alternatives to the TPP."

The two leaders also agreed to maintain consultation and close collaboration on building a united ASEAN and promoting the role of ASEAN in tackling regional issues, especially the East Sea issue.
The two sides stressed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, maritime safety and aviation and agreed that disputes should be resolved through peaceful means, on the basis of respect for international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They said they would also work closely towards a legally binding Code of Conduct for all involved parties in the South China Sea.

Prime Minister Phúc also met with Myanmar state counselor Aung San Suu Kyi yesterday.

Suu Kyi said she was inspired by Việt Nam achievements in building and developing the country.

The two leaders agreed that Viet Nam and Myanmar should push negotiations toward the signing of agreements in trade, investment and national defence.

Suu Kyi said Myanmar would create all favourable conditions for Việt Nam’s investment and trade activities in the country.

Phuc and Suu Ky also agreed on the need to resolve disputes through peaceful means based on international law as also an early finalisation of a Code of Conduct for the East Sea.

On the same day, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc met with the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in Manila, where he told the staff about the socio-economic situation at home, saying that the Party and the State would continue to take measures to stabilise the macro-economy, promote economic growth, accelerate the administrative reforms and improve the investment climate towards increasing national competitiveness and attracting more investment.
He expressed his hope that the overseas Vietnamese community in the Philippines would better integrate into the local society, follow the host country’s laws and contribute to strengthening the friendship and co-operative relations between Việt Nam and the Philippines.-VNS