Vietnam active in Asia-Pacific stability

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (L) VNA/VNS Photo Le Duong

Minh was speaking to the Asia Society in New York City. The meeting was one of many Minh held on the sideline of the 69th United Nations General Assembly.

In his speech, he said all countries with a stake in the future of the Asia-Pacific needed to strengthen their political will and determination to work together.

"Efforts at building a truly regional security architecture should be continued," he said. "Such architecture would not only help regulate relations among big powers, but also ensure that smaller countries can actively contribute to the maintenance of peace and stability in the region."

Minh said Viet Nam would continue its economic reform and development and stick to its foreign policy of diversification and multilateralisation of external relations, peace, independence and self-determination.

He said Viet Nam would be responsible to ASEAN and the region and promote the building of the ASEAN Community, which would become a reality by next year. ASEAN, he said, would be at the centre of the security of the Asian Pacific community.

Regarding the East Sea (South China Sea), Minh said Viet Nam sought to resolve the disputes by peaceful means based on the rule of international law.

"If all stakeholders have the political will, respect international law, and exercise self-restraint, the South China Sea disputes could be managed," he said.

In addition, Minh also met the Foreign Ministers of Finland and Tanzania.

Meeting with Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Toumioja, Minh suggested both countries further boost bilateral economic and trade co-operation, saying he welcomed Finland's investment in green technology, new energies, forestry, clean water supplies, and education, which help boost sustainable development in Viet Nam.

In his meeting with his Tanzanian counterpart, Bernard Kamillius Membe, he asked the government of Tanzania to create favorable conditions for the project jointly carried out by Viet Nam's Viettel group and the Epocha company of Tanzania.

Foreign Minister Membe replied that the Tanzanian President would visit Viet Nam next month. He said that Tanzania backed Viet Nam's bid to join the UN Economic and Social Council for the 2016-2018 term and become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 period.