Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem welcomed his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi’s visit to Vietnam for the FMM9 as a sign of the Chinese Government’s support and as a contribution to the meeting’s success

Mr Khiem expressed the hope that China would continue to enhance its role in boosting the ASEM cooperation process in the near future.

The Chinese diplomat expressed his belief that the FMM9 will be a great success as a contribution to effectively implementing the joint agreements reached at the ASEM 7 held in Beijing in October, 2008, raising Asia’s voice in ASEM and making the ASEM cooperation process more substantive and effective.

Both sides noted with satisfaction that remarkable progress has been made in bilateral relations in recent times with a view toward effectively implementing the comprehensive strategic partnership.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung’s tour of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, especially his meeting with Chinese PM Wen Jiabao on the sidelines of the Boao summit in Hainan, has added impetus to boosting bilateral relations in economics, trade and cooperation far and wide among ministries, sectors and localities.

In terms of border and territory issues, the two sides agreed to work more closely to fulfill the remaining work of border marker planting and demarcation while continuing to negotiate territorial water issues.

They pledged to make thorough preparations for activities concerning the Vietnam-China Friendship Year 2010 thus helping to further strengthen the solidarity and friendship between the countries.

They believed that with the joint efforts, the Vietnam-China strategic partnership will continue to flourish in the near future.

The same day, Mr Khiem met with Cambodian Deputy Foreign Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hor Nam Hong, who is on a visit to Hanoi for the FMM9.

Host and guest expressed their delight at the fast-developing friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia and consented to increase high-level exchange visits as agreed by both countries’ leaders.

They agreed to cooperate effectively in organising the conference on cooperation and development in border provinces between the two countries slated for early June and the 11^th session of the Joint Committee for Cultural, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation scheduled for late this year in Cambodia. They also agreed to speed up land border demarcation and marker planting.

Cambodia is currently carrying out its role as an Asian coordinator within ASEM.

At the meeting with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski who is attending the FMM9, Mr Khiem said Vietnam always attaches great importance to enhancing its ties of traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with Poland, particularly in such potential areas as shipbuilding, mining, oil and gas, food processing, education and training and the restoration of cultural and historic sites.

Mr Khiem praised Poland’s achievements in international integration and development as well as the Polish Government and its people’s efforts to overcome the global economic crisis.

For his part, Mr Sikorski appreciated Vietnam’s tremendous achievements in the Doi Moi (renovation) and international integration process and its Government efforts to curb the economic downturn while maintaining sustainable development.

He also affirmed that Poland’s consistent policy is to constantly develop its time-honour friendship and long-term, all-round cooperation with Vietnam.