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Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh shakes hands with German FM Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Government Guest House in Hanoi on October 31, 2016 before their talks. |
Both sides agreed to foster the exchange of delegations, especially high-level ones, continue the foreign ministerial level strategic management group, and coordinate closely in deploying the annual action plan between the two countries.
The two sides agreed to further encourage and create favorable conditions for German businesses to invest in Vietnam, particularly in manufacturing, high-tech, clean energy, infrastructure, finance-banking areas.
The two countries vowed to accelerate the official signing of the Vietnam-EU free trade agreement in a bid to raise the two-way trade value to US$20 billion by 2020.
Deputy PM, FM Minh took the occasion to extend thanks to the German Government for granting official development assistance over the past years.
He called on the German investors to pour capital in such priority fields like infrastructure development, environmental protection, and climate change adaptation.
Regarding regional and international issues, Deputy PM, FM Minh and German FM Steinmeier pledged to continue close coordination and mutual support at multi-lateral forums and international organizations.
Both sides shared their concerns over the recent complicated developments in the East Sea, underlining that disputes must be settled through peaceful means with full respect for diplomatic and legal processes based on international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
During his stay in Vietnam, the German FM paid a courtesy call to PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc, co-chaired a roundtable meeting with Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung, attended the inauguration ceremony of German Law and European Studies at the Ha Noi University of Law, and visited some economic and cultural establishments in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.