Jakarta (VNA) – Vietnamese Minister of ForeignAffairs Bui Thanh Son met with his foreign counterparts on the sidelines of the 56thASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-56) and related meetings in Jakarta,Indonesia, on July 14.

At a meeting with Prime Minister and Foreign Minister ofPapua New Guinea James Marape, Son affirmed that Vietnam wants to strengthenrelations with South Pacific island countries, including Papua New Guinea,saying ample room remains for the bilateral cooperation, especially in economy,trade, agriculture and fisheries.

For his part, Marapesaid Papua New Guinea welcomes Vietnamese businesses to invest in fisheries,agriculture, and oil and gas, and that the country will send delegations ofofficials and businesses to the Southeast Asian nation to explore cooperationopportunities.

Son proposed the two sides study the establishment ofappropriate cooperation mechanisms and implement the already-signed memorandum of understandingon fishery cooperation, including the formation of a joint technical committee.He also suggested promoting negotiations and signing relevant documents inother key areas, which will serve as a basis for further collaboration.

Speaking highly of Papua New Guinea's contributions asASEAN’s special observer, Son stressed that the two sides should continue theirclose coordination and mutual support at regional and international forums,especially within ASEAN-led mechanisms, the United Nations, and theAsia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.      
  
Meeting with Canadian FM Mélanie Joly, the two ministers highlyvalued the positive development of the Vietnam-Canada comprehensive partnership overthe past years, agreed on the need to put forth new orientations that match theregional and international situation as well as the level of their relations.  

Son lauded the Canadian government’s Indo-PacificStrategy that highlights ASEAN’s centrality, and agreed that the implementationof the strategy will open up new cooperation opportunities between Canada andASEAN in general, and Vietnam in particular.

For her part, Joly affirmed that Vietnam is one ofCanada's top three priority partners in the region, saying the two sides will promoteall-level delegation exchanges, further tap their economic and trade potential throughthe materialisation of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement forTrans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and consider expanding cooperation in suchspheres as green energy and clean energy, and maritime collaboration.

Son suggested Canada create more favourable conditionsand provide more scholarships for Vietnamese students, while supportingVietnamese citizens to live, study and work in the country, thus contributingto the development of Canada as well as the bilateral friendship.

On this occasion, Son also had a meeting with TurkishFM Hakan Fidan, during which the two ministers consented to step up all-leveldelegation exchanges, effectively implement bilateral cooperation mechanisms, betteroptimise cooperation potential, and enhance cultural and people-to-peopleexchanges.

He called on Turkish firms to increase investments inVietnam, especially in the reciprocal fields.

Fidan said Vietnam’s dispatch of forces to aid Turkey followingthe devastating earthquake last February vividly demonstrated their friendship,noting both sides consider this an important premise to boost their relationsin the time ahead.

The two ministers also compared notes on regional andinternational issues of shared concern.

At a meeting with Sri Lankan FM Ali Sabry, the two ministers affirmed they treasure the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Sri Lanka. They agreed to take measures to strengthen bilateral cooperation in different fields in the coming time. Son proposed the two sides increase the exchange of all-level delegations and further promote economic- trade-cultural ties and people-to-people exchanges. Sabry urged Vietnam to support Sri Lanka to join regional economic cooperation frameworks, including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). The two ministers concurred to soon resume bilateral cooperation mechanisms, including the political consultation at the deputy foreign minister level.On July 13, Son had a brief meeting with Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anniken Huitfeldt, during which they agreed to increase all-level delegation exchanges and closely coordinate in promotingthe bilateral trade and investment ties.

Huitfeldt said Norway stands ready to help Vietnam in energytransition and climate change response.

They also agreed to enhance coordination at regionaland international mechanisms and forums./.