Vietnam commits to closer cooperation with MRC states

He said Vietnam wants to cooperate closely with MRC member states and partners to realise set strategies and projects of the commission.

He said Vietnam is completing procedures for joining the 1997 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses, and hoped other Mekong River Basin countries will consider ratifying the convention to make it realistic.

At a reception for Cambodian PM Hun Sen, Dung proposed the governments of Vietnam and Cambodia continue to instruct their relevant agencies to speed up key projects connecting the two countries.

Hun Sen agreed with proposals of the Cambodian and Vietnamese ministries and agencies to improve the efficiency of agreements and projects reached during high-level exchange visits.

Meeting with Lao PM Thongsing Thammavong, PM Dung applauded Laos’ recent socio-economic development achievements, and said Vietnam supports Laos’ development.

Dung said he will ask Vietnamese agencies to work closely with their Lao counterparts to effectively implement high-level agreements.

Thammavong briefed Dung on Laos’ encouraging result in budget collection and expressed his belief that both countries will realise orientations to further develop the special ties between Laos and Vietnam.

While meeting with Sihasak Phuangketkeow, special envoy of the Thai Prime Minister, Dung said he hopes the government and people of Thailand will soon overcome difficulty at present.

He affirmed Vietnam is ready to discuss and sign a programme of action for the strategic partnership between the two countries at an appropriate time.

He proposed that Thailand continue performing its role as the ASEAN-China coordinator in boosting cooperation in issues of common concern, including the formulation of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea.

Sihasak Phuangketkeow voiced Thailand’s desire to foster ties with Vietnam and fully implement MRC commitments, programmes and projects.

At another reception for Myanmar Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin, PM Dung hailed Myanmar’s ASEAN Chair in 2014 and said he will lead a Vietnamese delegation to the ASEAN Summit in Myanmar this May.

Maung Lwin appreciated the effective cooperation of the two countries at regional and international forums, including the UN Human Rights Council of which Vietnam is a member.