Hanoi, (VNA) – Deputy Foreign Minister To Anh Dung held anonline talk with Minister of State at theFederal Foreign Office of Germany Niels Annen on July 23.   

During the talk, the two sides expressed joy at the strong development ofthe Vietnam-Germany strategic partnership across the fields, practicallymarking the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relationship(1975-2020).  

Deputy FM Dung affirmed that Germany has always been a leading importantpartner of Vietnam in the EU. He noted that the two countries’ recent adoptionof a strategic action plan and establishment of a joint committee for economiccooperation was a significant step, contributing to boosting bilateralcollaboration, especially economic and trade ties, in the context of theVietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement to take effect as from August 1 this year.

The two sides expressed their hope for the early approval of theVietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement, which will create a legal frameworkfor businesses of the two sides to enhance their investment ties in potentialfields.

Annen said Germany attaches importance to Vietnam’s role in SoutheastAsia, adding that he agreed to measures to deepen the Vietnam-Germany strategicpartnership in fields of shared interest such as trade-investment,science-technology, health care and education.   

He congratulated Vietnam for its success in responding to the COVID-19pandemic.

In reply, Deputy FM Dung praised the contribution made by the GermanGovernment to the global fight against COVID-19, as well as Germany’sinitiatives on international cooperation in this field.

Vietnam is willing to work closely with Germany in maintaining trade,especially in essential goods, medical supplies and materials for vaccineresearch and production, Dung said.        

Discussing cooperation in multilateral frameworks, the Vietnamese DeputyFM appreciated the coordination and mutual support between the two counties ininternational organisations, particularly when both countries are assuming adouble role: Vietnam as ASEAN Chair in 2020 and a non-permanent member of the UNSecurity Council, and Germany as rotating President of EU in the last sixmonths of 2020 and also a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Vietnam supports partners outside ASEAN in promoting cooperation withASEAN for common interest, thus helping promote trade liberalization and upholdmultilateralism and the compliance to international law in regions and on theworld, he said.

The German official proposed that the two countries make joint effortsto push for the establishment of the ASEAN-EU strategic partnership, thustaking ties between the two regions to a new high.

The two sides agreed to enhance their coordination in the framework ofthe UNSC in the settlement of issues of shared concern, thus contributing topeace, stability, cooperation and development in the world.

The German side said it is concerned about the current tension in theEast Sea, which affects the freedom, safety and security of maritime andaviation in the region, and supports the settlement of disputes in the East Seaby peaceful measures based on respect for international law, including the 1982UN Convention on the Law of the Sea./.