Vietnam and the Philippines on July 2 issued a joint press release on the occasion of the visit to Vietnam of Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert F. Del Rosario.

According to the joint press release, the discussions between the foreign ministers of the two countries during the visit covered bilateral cooperative projects, international and regional concerns, and people-to-people ties.

Regarding the East Sea (known as the South China Sea internationally) issue, the two foreign ministers discussed the urgent need to address the escalating challenges through peaceful means and in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The following is the full text of the joint press release:

Secretary Albert Del Rosario visited Hanoi on 2 July 2014 to follow up on the successful visit to the Philippines of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in May 2014.

Secretary Del Rosario expressed his appreciation to the Government of Vietnam for its warm hospitality and his meetings with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.

The discussions between the Foreign Ministers were comprehensive, constructive and productive and covered bilateral cooperative projects, international and regional concerns, and people-to-people ties.

On a bilateral basis, the two Ministers discussed wide range of issues and agree to further promote cooperation in many areas such as fisheries, ocean and maritime, defense and security, trade and investment. The Foreign Ministers also agreed to advance partnership to a higher level including the establishment of a Joint Commission headed by the two Ministers to formulate a road map in working towards a strategic partnership.

In particular, the Foreign Ministers exchanged views on the rising tension in the South China Sea, and discussed the urgent need to address the escalating challenges through peaceful means and in accordance with international law including UNCLOS. The two Foreign Ministers urged that the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) be implemented in its entirety, including refraining from the use of coercive force. The two Ministers also agreed that the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) be expeditiously concluded without undue delay. In this regard, the two Ministers reaffirmed the ASEAN Joint Statement on the Developments in the South China Sea issued on the 10th of May 2014 and the ASEAN Six Point Principles on the South China Sea.

The two Foreign Ministers reaffirmed the invaluable friendship between their countries and the importance of their partnership in ASEAN.

The two sides reaffirmed their common commitment to promote the rule of law and the peaceful resolution of disputes.

VNN