BRUSSELS — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh met with officials from several countries on the sidelines of the 12th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit in Brussels, Belgium.

Speaking highly of their effective co-ordination with Việt Nam at ASEM and other regional and international forums, Minh suggested Cyprus, Sweden and Portugal support the EU-Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which had been approved by the European Commission (EC) and was set to come into force in early 2019.

The deal would create more opportunities for economic and trade growth as well as consolidate foundations for the relationship between Việt Nam and the EU, he said.

The deputy PM urged the countries to back Việt Nam’s bid to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020-2021, affirming that Việt Nam was willing to co-ordinate with the countries in regional and global issues for common peace, stability, co-operation and prosperity.

Representatives of the three countries said they would continue to work with Việt Nam, both bilaterally and multilaterally, and in the framework of the UN and ASEM, while supporting the early realisation of the EVFTA, contributing to connecting the two regions.

The sides shared common viewpoints on regional and international issues, emphasising the importance of maintaining peace, stability and co-operation in the context of complicated developments in the world situation; ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight; respecting laws on waters and oceans; and resolving disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law.

At the meeting between Deputy PM Minh and President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades, the two sides expressed their delight at the developing bilateral ties, while expressing the need to enhance co-operation, including the exchange of delegations at all levels, boosting two-way trade and tourism and labour co-operation.

Minh asked Cyprus to create conditions for Vietnamese workers to do stable and long-term jobs in the country.

Meeting with Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom, Minh affirmed that Việt Nam attached importance to its ties with Sweden and the Vietnamese people always remember the European nation’s valuable assistance during difficult times. The two sides highly valued the positive development in bilateral relations and agreed to make more efforts to raise two-way trade to $2 billion by 2020.

The Vietnamese official asked Sweden to step up collaboration with Việt Nam in high technology application in clean and renewable energy, telecommunications, tourism, health and e-commerce.

The two sides agreed to organise activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year.

At the reception for Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs Ana Paula Zacarias, the two sides appreciated the development of their bilateral relationship, saying as potential remains huge, the two countries needed to tap advantages that could supplement each other, focusing on areas of Portugal’s strength and Việt Nam’s demands such as marine economy development, navigation and tourism. — VNS