Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and his German counterpart, Guido Westerwelle meet with the press after the talks (Source: VNA)

They also exchanged views on each country’s situation as well as regional and international issues of common concern.

The two sides agreed that the upgrading of Viet Nam-Germany relation to a strategic partnership has created a framework to develop the two countries’ cooperation in a strong, comprehensive and effective manner in all aspects, especially in priority areas such as politics-diplomacy, economics-trade-investment, development cooperation, law, education-training and science-technology.

On that basis, the two ministers reached consensus on major measures and orientations to deepen the Viet Nam-Germany strategic partnership in the coming time.

Minh and his German counterpart agreed that in the coming time, the two sides should increase the exchange of delegations at all levels, especially at high-ranking level, to create a momentum for the intensive and effective development of the bilateral cooperation.

The two sides highly valued German Minister of Economics and Technology Philipp Roesler’s visit to Viet Nam from September 17-19. They affirmed to closely coordinate with each other to arrange a Germany visit by Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung in 2013.

The two sides spoke highly of the outcomes of the first deputy foreign ministerial-level meeting of the Viet Nam-Germany Strategic Management Group in Berlin on September 10, considering it an effective and important mechanism to speed up the implementation of specific contents in the Viet Nam-Germany Strategic Action Plan.

The two ministers expressed their pleasure at positive developments in trade and investment ties between the two countries despite economic difficulties in Europe and the world as a whole, with Germany continuing to be Viet Nam’s largest trade partner in the EU. Many German groups and companies have been operating effectively in Viet Nam.

However, they also found that Germany’s direct investment in Viet Nam remains modest. Therefore, the two sides agreed to create more favourable conditions for their businesses to operate in each other’s market.

Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh thanked the German government and people for the effective and important provision of official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam in the past years. Minh highly appreciated the fact that Germany continues to put Viet Nam in the priority list of ODA recipients in the coming time, with focus on the areas of environmental protection, health, vocational training and climate change adaptation, which go in line with Viet Nam’s socio-economic development priorities.

The two sides agreed to foster education and training cooperation, especially in carrying out the project of building the Viet Nam-Germany University and developing it into a regional and international –recognised university.

Minh affirmed that Viet Nam will create the right conditions for Germany to extend the current pilot programme on teaching German in high schools in Viet Nam.

The two ministers also shared views on the necessity of further intensifying bilateral cooperation on science and technology.

Minister Minh proposed that German government should continue facilitating overseas Vietnamese’s integration into the local community, enabling them to make positive contributions to the host country, helping to strengthen friendship and cooperation between the two nations.

The two ministers also shared views on a number of international issues of mutual concern and agreed to accelerate cooperation in multi-lateral forums and international organisations such as ASEM, ASEAN, EU and the United Nations. They reached consensus on the need to promote the two countries’ roles and positions in ASEAN and EU in a bid to further lift the two regions’ cooperation.

Guido Westerwele affirmed that Germany will continue supporting Viet Nam’s efforts to strengthen the comprehensive cooperation with EU, and assist Viet Nam in the negotiation process on a Free Trade Agreement and the implementation of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with EU.

The two sides expressed concerns about the recent development in the East Sea, which made negative impacts on regional peace and stability. They agreed that disputes should be resolved by peaceful measures on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

On the same day, Minister Minh received Vice Chairman of Foreign Relations Committee of the German Parliament Hans-Ulrich Klose.

Foreign Minister holds talks with German counterpart