Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh met with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, in Boracy, the Philippines, on February 20 on the sidelines of the AMM Retreat.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (L) and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi (Source: VNA)
Boracay (VNA) – Deputy PrimeMinister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh met with Indonesian ForeignMinister Retno Marsudi, in Boracy, the Philippines, on February 20 on the sidelinesof the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat (AMM Retreat).
At the meeting, the two sides agreed todeepen the friendship and strategic partnership between Vietnam and Indonesiain 2017 via high-level exchanges, including the visit to Vietnam of the IndonesianPresident and the visit to Indonesia of President Tran Dai Quang.
The two ministers also agreed to promotecooperation mechanisms, particularly the Joint Commission Meetingat the foreign ministerial level slated for the third quarter inVietnam, and the Joint Committee on economic, scientific and technologicalcooperation.
They decided to boost cooperation onsecurity and defence, pledging to share information and work closely to combat terrorismin the region.
The two foreign ministers agreed on the needto accelerate the delineation of the exclusive economic zones beyond thecontinental shelf between the two countries.
Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh lauded thecooperation of the Indonesian Foreign Ministry in dealing with Vietnamesefishermen detained in Indonesia in past years, and expressed his hope that thecountry will continue addressing the issue in a humanitarian spirit and in linewith the strategic partnership between the two nations.
For her part, Retno Marsudi agreed to coordinatewith Vietnam during APEC 2017 which is being hosted by the country, and promoteASEAN’s central role in the region. She also vowed to work with Vietnam for thedevelopment of ASEAN’s three pillars of politics – security, economics, cultureand expand cooperation between the bloc and other nations.
The two countries decided to cooperate withthe Philippines which chairs the ASEAN in 2017 in order to ensure regionalpolicies are effectively implemented.
Referring to East Sea issues, the twoministers attached significance to maintaining peace, stability, maritime andaviation security and safety. They agreed on the need to address disputes usingpeaceful measures with respect for international law, including the UnitedNations Convention on Law of the Sea 1982.
The two nations will work with other ASEANnations to effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in theEast Sea and hasten the formation of a Code of Conduct for the East Sea.-VNA
A retreat meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers under the Philippine chairmanship this year is scheduled to be held in Boracay on February 21.
A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy FM Nguyen Quoc Dung, head of Vietnam ASEAN SOM, attended ASEAN SOM in Boracay, the Philippines, to prepare contents for the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat.
Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Perfecto Yasay agreed to hasten the approval of the Vietnam-Philippines action programme for 2017-2022.
Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang cleared up deputies' concern regarding how to spur socio-economic growth, renew traditional growth motives and establish new momentum for development.
Vietnam proposed several priorities: narrowing the digital divide, strengthening women’s leadership in the digital economy and AI governance, and mobilising sustainable financing for gender equality initiatives in line with each country’s national priorities and context. Vietnam also advocated for genuine women’s participation and leadership across all areas of public life.
Ha expressed his hope that cooperation in science and technology, agriculture, and natural resources would emerge as new focal points and engines of growth in Vietnam–China relations.
Giang said he believes that building on the solid foundation nurtured over the past half-century and the strong determination of both nations, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will continue to grow in a more robust, comprehensive, and extensive manner, thus bringing more practical benefits to the two nations' people.
Highlighting the transformative potential of the draft law in revitalising Vietnam’s railway industry, Hoang Van Cuong, a deputy of Hanoi, expressed his support for Article 39, which empowers the Prime Minister to issue a list of railway-related goods and services to be assigned or ordered from domestic enterprises for production.
According to the Ministry of Public Security, Hoan, formerly Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, is under investigation for allegedly taking bribes in connection with a case involving the Hoang Long Construction and Manpower Supply JSC and related units.
Chairing a national conference on the organisation of the examination on June 18, the PM highlighted the historical significance of the examination, as the restructuring of provincial-level administrative units is underway and the two-tier local administration model is set to officially begin operations on July 1.
Right on the same day, the ministry issued its highest-level travel warning, urging Vietnamese citizens not to travel to Israel or Iran, and advised those already in these countries to swiftly consider evacuation or relocation plans.
From the struggles against colonialists and imperialists to the period of Doi moi (renewal) and international integration, the Vietnamese revolutionary press has always played a pioneering role on the ideological and cultural front, he said.
The Party leader's working session with the standing boards of the Party Committees of HCM City, Ba Ria – Vung Tau and Binh Duong, the VNA General Director's remarks on the occasion of the 19th OANA General Assembly, the launch of new NIC - Google initiatives aimed at bolstering AI entrepreneurship and digital literacy in Vietnam are among news highlights June 18.
Vietnam and Indonesia reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in combating terrorism as it remains a threat to peace, security, and stability across their respective nations, the broader region, and the international community.
The Vietnamese representative also emphasised the shared responsibility of relevant parties to build trust, enhance cooperation, and jointly manage the risks of conflict, thus safeguarding long-term peace and stability in the East Sea.
The National Assembly on June 18 passed the law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Product and Goods Quality, with 408 out of 420 participating deputies voting in favour, accounting for 85.36% of the total.
The Party leader asked the new HCM City to embrace a multi-centre and integrated urban ecosystem where each development pole functions as a link complementary to and intelligently connected with each other in a harmonious whole.
The resolutions issued by the PM as well as ministries and ministry-level agencies reassign responsibility for 346 administrative procedures - 18 from district to provincial levels, 278 to commune level, and 50 eliminated.
Legislators are due to pass several amended laws, including the Law amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Economical and Efficient Use of Energy, and the Law amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Product and Goods Quality.
Vietnamese localities' readiness to implement the two-tier local administration model, the evacuation of 18 Vietnamese citizens from Iran, Petrovietnam's 11th ranking in the 2025 Fortune Southeast Asia 500 are among news highlights on June 17 evening.
The General Secretary underlined the resolve to achieve a growth rate of at least 8% in 2025, laying the groundwork for double-digit growth in the following period. He noted that these are mandatory targets, with no alternative path to success.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (L) and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi (Source: VNA) 
