Hanoi (VNA)ℱ – The Vietnam – Germany strategic partnership has been developing in a dynamic and effective fashion, their top diplomats – Pham Binh Minh and Frank-Walter Steinmeier – noted during talks in Hanoi on October 31.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said Vietnam always treasures the friendship and cooperation with Germany. He considered the official visit by the German Federal Foreign Minister, from October 30 to November 1, a contributor to the bilateral relationship intensification, especially amidst the fifth founding anniversary of their strategic partnership. Congratulating Vietnam on its achievements in socio-economic development and international integration, Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the Germany Government wants to bolster cooperation with Vietnam in all spheres. He highly valued the country’s growing role and stature in the Southeast Asian region. The officials agreed that Vietnam and Germany will increase delegation exchanges at all levels, especially high-ranking level, continue to effectively implement the meeting mechanism of the two foreign ministries’ strategic management group, and further coordinate to carry out the Vietnam-Germany action plan. Both sides also agreed to encourage and facilitate bilateral trade and Germany’s investment in Vietnam, particularly in manufacturing, high technology, clean and renewable energy, infrastructure, and finance-banking. They will promote the official signing of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, thereby creating a framework for stronger trade and investment partnerships between the two nations to raise their trade to the targeted 20 billion USD by 2020. The two sides expressed their delight at the fruitful cooperation in education-training. They agreed to enhance collaboration in vocational training and build some vocational training centres meeting Germany’s standards in order to help Vietnam with development and international integration. At the talks, Minh acknowledged the German Government’s ODA provision, which has supported his country during socio-economic development. He asked the EU nation to continue its assistance in the fields Vietnam prioritises and Germany is strong, such as infrastructure building, clean and renewable energy, environmental protection, and climate change response. The countries will continue coordinating closely and supporting each other at multilateral forums and international organisations, including Germany’s advocacy of the reinforcement of Vietnam’s cooperation with the EU, they said. Regarding some regional and international affairs, the two sides raised concerns about recent complex developments in the East Sea, underlining the dispute settlement through peaceful measures, with full respect to diplomatic and legal processes on the basis of international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. During his visit, the German Foreign Minister met with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and, together with Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung, co-chaired a roundtable conference on measures to boost the countries’ investment and business partnerships.-VNA