VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam’s persistent struggle for the national sovereignty and acceleration of its cooperative relations with other nations and intentional organizations are considered as remarkable diplomatic activities in July.

Struggling for national sovereignty

After China’s removal of its drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou 981 and escort vessels out of Viet Nam’s waters, PM Nguyen Tan Dung on July 16 confirmed that Viet Nam consistently struggles to protect its sovereignty with measures in accordance with the international law.

Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh (R) receives Phillipine FM Albert F. Del Rosario, Ha Noi, July 2, 2014.

Earlier, the Permanent Mission of Viet Nam to the United Nations on July 3 sent a paper to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon opposing China’s illegal occupation of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago and asserting Viet Nam’s sovereignty over it.

Relations with other nations enhanced

During the official visit to Viet Nam from July 2-3, Philippine FM Albert F. Del Rosario met with PM Nguyen Tan Dung and held talks with Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh.

They exchanged issues on bilateral cooperation, especially in terms of politics, economic, security, national defense, agriculture, food security, culture, tourism and aquatic cooperation.

On the East Sea issues, the two sides stressed the importance of the Declaration of the ASEAN Ministers on May 10, 2014.

PM Dung suggested ASEAN nations struggle and prevent China’s violations of international law.

From July 21-23, Politburo member and Secretary of the Ha Noi Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi paid an official, working visit to the US.

Mr. Nghi had meetings with a number of US officials, including Counsellor to the US Secretary of State Thomas Shannon, Deputy National Security Advisor Tony Blinken, President pro tempore of the US Senate Patrick Leahy, Senator John McCain, Under Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, President of the US National Democratic Institute Kenneth Wollack and President of the International Republican Institute (IRI) Mark Green.

He underlined Viet Nam’s stance and determination of safeguarding the country’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and settling disputes through peaceful measures in conformity with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

He asserted that Viet Nam welcomes the US to strengthen cooperation with the Asia-Pacific for the regional peace, stability and prosperity.

From July 22-26, Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh officially visited Poland and the Czech Republic.

Deputy PM Minh and leaders of these nations agreed on measures to accelerate cooperation in politics, economic, trade, education-training, national defense, environmental protection and issues of international and regional concerns.

On July 30, Deputy PM Minh held a telephone talk with French FM Laurent Fabius about measures to boost up the two nations’ strategic partnership and expand cooperation in all fields.  

Cooperation with international organizations promoted

During the working visit to Viet Nam, World Bank (WB) Group President Jim Yong Kim met with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, State President Truong Tan Sang and PM Nguyen Tan Dung.

He confirmed that the WB expects to further cooperate with Viet Nam in the future and believes in the future development of Viet Nam.

From July 22-23, Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh co-chaired the 20th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting (AEMM-20).

The Deputy PM supposed that ASEAN and the EU need to enhance economic and commercial cooperation, including the completion of the Free Trade Agreements between the EU and ASEAN nations.

On the sidelines of the meeting, he held bilateral meetings with the FMs of Germany, Denmark and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

In late July, the Deputy PM attended the 4th Mekong-Republic of Korea (RoK) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. At the event, he stressed on the importance of strengthening infrastructure, logistics, human resource connectivity for the development of the Greater Sub-Mekong region.

VGP/VNN