Hanoi (VNA) – DeputyPrime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Philippine Secretary ofForeign Affairs Perfecto Yasay agreed to hasten the approval of theVietnam-Philippines action programme for 2017-2022 to forge stronger bilateralcooperation.

The agreement was reached duringtheir meeting in Boracay, the Philippines on February 20 on the sidelines ofthe ongoing ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat.

The two sides pledged to urge agenciesof each country to implement agreements and enhance the efficiency of existing partnershipmechanisms such as the bilateral cooperation committee, defence policydialogue, Joint-Committee on maritime and ocean issues, and Sub-Committee fortrade collaboration.

Yasay committed to holding the thirdForeign Ministerial Meeting on Committee for Bilateral Cooperation and theninth Deputy Foreign Ministerial Meeting on maritime and ocean issues in thePhilippines this year.

He also vowed to consider creatingfavourable conditions for Vietnam’s vegetable, fruit and poultry meat to besold in his country.

Additionally, both sides agreedto strengthen the exchange of information and experience and to boost affiliationin combating crime, terrorism, high technology crimes, and drug and humantrafficking, while negotiating to sign an agreement on extradition and anotheron transfer of convicts.

In the context of piracy in theregion, Deputy PM Minh asked the Philippines’ Foreign Ministry to coordinate closely,share information and cooperate with ASEAN countries to tackle the problem toensure maritime security and safety.

The two sides expressed delightat the strong growth of the bilateral strategic partnership, which has beenfostered through exchanges of high-ranking delegations, including the Vietnamvisit by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in September last year.

Along with bilateral cooperation,the two sides discussed international and regional issues of shared concern.They agreed to work closely in presiding over multilateral meetings in 2017,with the Philippines ASEAN Chair and Vietnam hosting APEC.

They will cooperate to strengthensolidarity and the central role of ASEAN in major matters related to securityand the interests of each country and the region, while reaffirming the need toensure peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflightin the East Sea as well as the settlement of maritime disputes based oninternational law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The two sides also pledged to coordinatewith other ASEAN countries to implement the Declaration on Conduct of Partiesin the East Sea and hasten the signing of the Code of Conduct in the EastSea.-VNA