Minh affirmed that Vietnam treasures its strategicpartnership with Germany which plays an important role in Europe and the world.
He expressed his delight at the strong and effectivedevelopment of bilateral ties over the past 45 years, especially since the establishmentof the strategic partnership.
Minh thanked Germany for actively supporting Vietnam-EU cooperativeties, especially its pushing forward the signing and ratification of theEU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).
He welcomed Germany’s active and constructive role in theregion and expected that Germany, with its key role in the EU, would continuepromoting collaboration between the two regions via its policy orientations towardsthe Indo-Pacific on economy, trade-investment expansion, human resourcesdevelopment, and supporting ASEAN’s central role in the region.
Maas, for his part, spoke highly of the achievements of thebilateral relationship and agreed to increase visits at all levels and workclosely together to carry out the strategic action plan for the 2019-2021period, thus further deepening bilateral cooperation in promising fields suchas manufacturing and supporting industries, smart infrastructure, renewableenergy and vocational training.
As Vietnam is assuming the role of ASEAN Chair 2020 andGermany is holding the rotating Presidency of the EU in the second half of thisyear, both sides promised to foster connectivity between the two regions andwork together towards the establishment of the ASEAN-EU strategic partnership.
On regional and global issues of mutual concern, the twoofficials affirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability andsettlement of disputes via peaceful measures in the East Sea based on internationallaw and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)./.