At the meeting with Japanese PM Yukio Hatoyama, PM Dung expressed his delight at the positive developments in bilateral relations in every field and praised Japan’s support for Vietnam during the Doi Moi (Renewal) process. Mr Dung asked the Japanese Government to increase its ODA funding to help Vietnam carry out major infrastructure projects.

The Japanese PM confirmed Japan’s continued support for Vietnam in implementing large projects such as the North-South Railway project, the North-South road transport project and the Hoa Lac high-tech zone project. The two leaders agreed to strengthen the Vietnam-Japan strategic partnership in line with the aspirations and interests of people from both countries.

When meeting with his New Zealand counterpart John Key, Mr Dung said the two countries should implement mechanisms for bilateral cooperation as soon as possible.

Mr Key stated that New Zealand attaches a great deal of importance to boosting its comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam and said he will visit Vietnam in the near future. PM Dung described the New Zealand PM’s coming visit as an indication of their excellent bilateral relationship after 35 years of diplomatic ties.

In his meeting with Morocco PM Abbas El Fassi, both leaders underlined the need to tap into potential areas such as tourism, agriculture and mining and encourage businesses to boost bilateral cooperation and tripartite cooperation with an other African country.

On meeting with the EU President, Herman Van Rompuy, PM Dung congratulated him on assuming an extremely important position in the EU.

Vietnam and the EU should deepen their relations in order to become a model of cooperation between a developed centre and a developing country. Vietnam welcomed the EU’s positive report on the country’s market economy status and asked the organisation to recognize its full market economy status as soon as Vietnam meets the remaining criteria while facilitating two-way trade exchanges, said Mr Dung

The EU President said the EU supports Vietnam’s effort to promote relations with the organisation towards the signing of a Partnership Cooperation Agreement (PCA) and a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Mr Herman praised Vietnam’s import role in ASEAN and expressed the hope that Vietnam and the EU will work more closely together to lift their relations to a higher level.

Prior to the Nuclear Security Summit, US Vice President Joseph Biden met with PM Nguyen Tan Dung and other leaders to discuss international issues on energy security.

Mr Dung said that Vietnam wants to use nuclear energy for national development and strongly supports disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons to create a world free of nuclear weapons.

The Nuclear Security Summit and the conference to review the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) scheduled for May will provide an excellent opportunity for countries to make specific commitments to the disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and the safe use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, including ensuring nuclear security, PM Dung stressed.