Minh said the visit will also promote ties between the twoforeign ministries following the ninth meeting of the Vietnam-Philippines Joint Commission forBilateral Cooperationlast March.
Locsin, who is in Vietnam fromJuly 7-10, spoke highly of Vietnam’s considerable progress in nationaldevelopment and global integration over the past years.
Both sides agreed to facilitateall-level visits and people-to-people exchange, regularly maintain andeffectively uphold bilateral cooperation mechanisms, including the jointworking group on ocean-related affairs and defense policy dialogue.
They vowed to consider issuingannual political consultation mechanism and signing new cooperation agreementson national defence, security and law enforcement.
Host and guest affirmeddetermination to remove barriers regarding trade and investment, and workclosely together to hold the third meeting of the commission this year.
The Philippine Foreign Secretary pledgedto make it easier for Vietnamese fruits, vegetables, cattle and fowl meat to enterthe Asian country soon.
The two sides promised to improvethe efficiency of cooperation in other important fields of education –training, labour, transportation, science-technology, culture-tourism,particularly in marine issues and fishery.
They highlighted the need to enhance consultation and offermutual liaison on issues related to security and strategy within ASEANframework, improve the bloc’s security and central role together with othermember states, and successfully realise the ASEAN Vision 2025.
They also committed to working closely together atmultilateral forums, especially at the UN when Vietnam undertakes the role ofnon-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure.
On the East Sea issue, they vowed to consistently follow theprinciple of peacefully settling disputes in line with international law,including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The leaders stressed the necessity to enhance trust and theimportance of non-militarisation, refraining from actions that could complicatethe situation and increase tension in the East Sea.
They vowed to offer mutual support and maintain regionalsolidarity in the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on theConduct of Parties in the East Sea, as well as negotiations on reaching apractical, effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea in line with internationallaw and 1982 UNCLOS.
Following the talks, the two ministers signed a Memorandumof Understanding on cooperation between the two foreign ministries.-VNA