Deputy PM holds bilateral meetings at WEF 2015

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh had bilateral meetings on the sideline of the 45th World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on January 22 (local time).

Deputy PM Minh (right) and US Trade Representative Michael Froman

At the meeting with Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, the two sides shared the view that the relations between the two countries are growing and affirmed continuous efforts to boost bilateral co-operation, especially in the prioritised areas of climate change adaptation and sustainable agriculture.

Queen Maxima, who is the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development, invited Vietnam to join a group of inclusive finance friends, which includes Ambassadors to the United Nations.

She said Vietnam was selected among the 25 countries to participate in the inclusive finance programme, expressing her hope to visit Vietnam in 2016 as the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development, her position since 2009.

The Deputy PM and US Trade Representative Michael Froman highly valued the robust development of the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership over the past time.

They reached a consensus on working together closely in preparation for celebratory activities marking the 20th anniversary of diplomatic ties with a view of bringing the bilateral relations to a new height.

The Deputy PM suggested the US continue granting Vietnam flexibility for the early conclusion of negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement.

He confirmed that Vietnam is making maximum efforts to ensure high quality and balance for the TPP.

The US official commented that the fresh TPP negotiation round progressed positively and expressed his hopes that parties involved would seek solutions to soon wrap up the negotiations.

The Vietnamese Deputy PM held a meeting with his Thai counterpart Devacula Pridyathorn in the presence of a number of Vietnamese and Thai businesses.

The two sides agreed to press ahead with the strategic partnership, in particular regional and sub-regional economic co-operation and connectivity.

Deputy PM Minh asserted the country’s willingness to facilitate Thai businesses’ investments as well as their launch of projects of shared benefits in Vietnam.

On January 23, he will engage in bilateral activities, and attend and deliver speeches at several important discussions of the forum.

(Source: nhandan.org.vn)