PM meets Myanmar, Indonesian Presidents

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung yesterday attended separate meetings with President U Thein Sein of Myanmar and Indonesia's Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on the sidelines of the 24th ASEAN Summit in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.

President U Thein Sein thanked Viet Nam for supporting the country in performing its ASEAN Chairmanship, affirming that Myanmar always attached importance to its traditional friendship with Viet Nam.


Along with enhancing the exchanges of delegations, high level meetings and people-to-people contact, Myanmar would create favourable conditions for Vietnamese businesses to invest in the country, particularly in the areas of oil and gas, banking and tourism, with the aim of achieving US$500 million in two-way trade by 2015, he said.

The Myanmar leader also said he hoped the eighth meeting of the Joint Committee on bilateral cooperation between the two countries and the seventh political consultation between the two Foreign Ministries would be held soon.

During the meeting, the two sides expressed their affirmation of growing bilateral ties. Both leaders said they highly valued collaboration between the two countries at regional and international forums, particularly in sub-regional cooperation frameworks such as the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy, the Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Viet Nam, the Greater Mekong Subregion and the East-West Economic Corridor.

They agreed to work with other ASEAN member countries to boost solidarity and build an ASEAN Community by 2015, while fostering a common voice for the community on regional and international matters, including the East Sea issue.

During his meeting with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, PM Dung congratulated the country on its successful parliamentary elections held recently, and spoke highly of the President's role in elevating bilateral ties to the strategic partnership level last June.

The two sides agreed to actively implement the plan of actions in the 2014-2018 period and hold the second meeting of their Joint Committee in 2014, while preparing for activities to celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2015.

Both leaders also said they were pleased with the close coordination of both nations at regional and international forums, especially at the ASEAN and the United Nations.

They pledged to continue working closely with other ASEAN members in successfully building an ASEAN Community of solidarity, consolidating ASEAN's central role in regional cooperation.

Regarding new developments in the East Sea , the Indonesian President expressed concern over the rising tension in the sea, holding that all disputes should be settled peacefully without military intervention.

Indonesia is willing to coordinate with Viet Nam and relevant parties in seeking suitable solutions to the matter, he affirmed.