President in Beijing for APEC meet, talks with Philippines counterpart

President Truong Tan Sang arrives in Beijing, China yesterday for the 22nd Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting. - VNA/VNS Photo Nguyen Khang

The visit, made at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, demonstrates the country's policy of continuously integrating into the world economy and pursuing a higher degree of multilateral diplomacy, contributing to APEC's common concerns and key points on its agenda, a Foreign Ministry statement noted.

Under the banner of "Shaping the future through the Asia-Pacific Partnership", the meeting will focus on issues related to connectivity,the establishment of a regional free trade area, and emerging concerns in economic and trade collaboration, it said.

Upon his arrival, Sang met with the President of the Philippines Benigno Simeon Aquino III, during which the two leaders expressed satisfaction with the development of bilateral relations and multifaceted co-operation.

They agreed to convene soon the first joint working committee of their foreign ministries to discuss details for establishment the Viet Nam-Philippines Strategic Partnership.

The two presidents also exchanged ideas and plans to boost co-operation in politics, diplomacy, economics, trade, finance, education, culture, tourism, sea and ocean co-operation.

They agreed to take strong measures to bring two-way trade to reach US$3 billion in 2016.

They also discussed international and regional issues of mutual interest and agreed to further boost and maintain peace, stability, security, safety and maritime freedom in the region, and to promote solutions to all disputes based on international laws and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

They also agreed to co-operate closely in the task of establishing an ASEAN Community by 2015 and support each other as the Philippines prepares to organise the APEC Year 2015, followed by Viet Nam in 2017.

The two presidents exchanged and accepted invitations to visit either country.

Also yesterday, Sang met representatives of leading enterprises from the US, who were also in Beijing for the APEC CEO Summit.

The Vietnamese president stressed that in the 20 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, many positive developments in ties between Viet Nam and the US, especially after the two countries set up comprehensive partnership in 2013.

He praised US enterprises for being trustworthy partners and pledging long-term investment in Viet Nam.

He said that the enterprises had contributed to the development of bilateral relations.

For their part, the representatives spoke highly of Viet Nam's achievements in stabilising its macro economy, restructuring the economy and comprehensively boosting international integration.

They expressed their interest in the potential for investing and doing business in Viet Nam and suggested measures that Viet Nam could deploy to take advantage of regional links, especially the APEC and Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Earlier yesterday, President Sang praised the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) for its contributions to neighbourly ties between Viet Nam and China.

In a meeting with Chairwoman Li Xiaolin, President Sang expressed his hope that the CPAFFC would come up with ideas for exchanges between the two peoples in the near future, especially on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties next year.