Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (r) meets Indonesian President Joko Widodo in New Delhi, India yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

NEW DELHI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc yesterday met Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Indonesian President Joko Widodo in New Delhi, India. They spoke on the sidelines of the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit marking the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations. 

In talks with Hun Sen, both sides said they were delighted at the 30 per cent growth in two-way trade reaching nearly US$4 billion in 2017.  They also praised celebrations for Việt Nam-Cambodia Friendship Year 2017,

The two leaders agreed to direct ministries and sectors to implement agreements reached during the ninth Cambodia-Laos-Việt Nam (CLV) Development Triangle Summit in Siem Reap in November, 2016.

These include deals on the economy, tourism, environmental protection, sustainable management and exploitation of natural resources, attracting investment for development, and combating cross-border crimes. 

The two said they would work together to prepare for the 10th CLV Summit in Hà Nội in March 2018. 

Satisfied with measures to ensure border security, the two sides agreed to ask agencies to exchange experience in border demarcation and in placing border markers.

Phúc asked Hun Sen to direct Cambodian authorised agencies to flexibly deal with issues related to legal documents and the property of Vietnamese people in Cambodia, helping them lead a stable life and contribute to the host country’s growth. 

The two PMs said they would co-ordinate closely at ASEAN meetings for peace, stability, co-operation and development in the region. 

Phúc invited PM Hun Sen to attend the sixth Great Mekong Subregion Summit (GMS-6) and the GMS Business Forum in Hà Nội in March. 

In his meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Phúc showed satisfaction at the growing ties between the two countries, especially after a visit to Indonesia by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Nguyễn Phú Trọng, last August.

The two leaders will direct authorities of both sides to activate agreements reached during the visit, while seeking to increase two-way trade to $10 billion. 

The two countries will work closely on defence co-operation in the 2017-22 period, and form a new mechanism on policy consultation, information sharing, education co-operation, and search and rescue activities. 

The two sides also agreed to focus on completing the delimitation of economic exclusive zones at sea.

Phúc thanked the Indonesian government for collaboration in returning Vietnamese fishermen held by Indonesian forces.

He said he hoped Indonesia would continue dealing with the issue in the spirit of friendship and asked that it reconsider its policy of destroying fishing vessels. 

The Vietnamese  leader recognised Indonesian concerns about Việt Nam’s new policy on imported cars, saying that he was directing the Ministry of Transport to give specific guidelines. 

The two PMs also pledged to work closely at upcoming ASEAN meetings to strengthen intra-bloc solidarity and the group’s central role in the region. 

Earlier, Phúc met the new ASEAN Secretary-General, Lim Jock Ho, inviting him to attend the GMS-6. Lim agreed.

Phúc later joined ASEAN leaders at a parade marking the 69th Republic Day of India. — VNS