PM Dung attends discussion sessions at the G20 summit
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung held meetings with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands and attended a tripartite meeting with Indonesian President and the ASEAN General Secretary before the opening ceremony of the G20 summit.
On the morning of June 27 (local time), Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper chaired a welcome ceremony for PM Dung and other leaders gathering for the G20 summit in Toronto.
The summit’s opening ceremony will officially take place in the evening of June 27. As the ASEAN Chair, PM Dung will attend all discussion sessions at the summit to give opinions and contribute to initiatives dealing with global economic and development issues.
Prior to the opening ceremony, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung held meetings with the Prime Minister of the Netherland and attended a tripartite meeting with Indonesian President and ASEAN General Secretary. The meetings aimed to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and other countries and affirm that ASEAN will make active contributions to discussion sessions at the summit.
During the meeting, PM Dung, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang and ASEAN General Secretary Surin Pitsuwan agreed that ASEAN should play a greater role in the content of the discussions and in implementing the Growth Framework in an equitable, strong and sustainable manner through reforming international financial institutions, combating protectionism and promoting trade and investment.
They affirmed that ASEAN supports to efforts of G20 nations to boost the international economic recovery and overcome challenges and global imbalances. This was reflected in a joint statement by ASEAN leaders at the 16th ASEAN Summit in Hanoi on recovery and sustainable development. It shows ASEAN’s commitment and plan of action to promote the liberalisation of trade and investment and narrow the development gap.
The Indonesian President and ASEAN General Secretary voiced support for Vietnam’s initiatives to establish a policy for closer cooperation between G20 and ASEAN.
While meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, PM Dung expressed his pleasure at significant achievements in their bilateral relations. Despite the global financial crisis in 2009, the two countries’ trade turnover reached almost US$1.7 billion. The Netherlands currently ranks third among Vietnam’s largest European investors, with total investment of US$3 billion, Mr Dung said.
The PM emphasised that the Vietnamese government attaches importance to boosting comprehensive cooperation with the Netherlands, Vietnam’s leading European trade and investment partner.
He spoke highly of the Netherlands’ contributions to resolving urgent global issues such as climate change, pollution, clean energy and poverty.
Mr Dung thanked the Netherlands for its assistance to Vietnam in building the Vietnam-EU Strategic Partnership and Cooperation Agreement to adapt to climate change and manage water sources, adding that Vietnam gives priority to boosting cooperation on climate change with the Netherlands.
PM Dung proposed that the Netherlands, as an active member of the EU, continue to support Vietnam in issues related to leather-capped shoes, seneralised tariff preferences, and negotiations on the Vietnam-EU Strategic Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, as well as recognising Vietnam’s market economy status.
PM Jan Peter Balkenende praised PM Dung’s proposals and initiatives, saying that the Netherlands is always keen to enhance cooperation with Vietnam.
He invited PM Dung to visit the Netherlands this year and expressed his belief that the visit will provide a fresh impetus for both countries to strengthen their cooperation.
The two PMs also agreed to make contributions to the contents of discussions at the summit.