Review of PM Phuc's foreign trips in 2017

1. PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc's official visit to Cambodia from April 24-25 at the invitation of his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Sen, was his first Cambodia visit as the PM of the Vietnamese Government.

 It was also an important external activity to celebrate the Viet Nam-Cambodia Friendship Year 2017.

The visit promoted the “fine neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability” between the two countries in the new international situation.

2. PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc paid an official visit to Laos on April 26-27 at the invitation of Lao PM Thongloun Sisoulith.

It was the first official Lao visit made by the Government leader and also an important activity of the Viet Nam-Laos Friendship and Solidarity Year 2017, marking the 55th anniversary of Viet Nam-Laos diplomatic ties and the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Viet Nam-Laos Treaty on Amity and Cooperation.

The visit  further accelerated bilateral relations in a sustainable fashion, whilst promoting economic growth, social security, environmental protection and the effective implementation of the Viet Nam-Laos bilateral cooperation agreement for the 2016-2020 period.

3. PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc's official visit to the United States from May 29 to 31, at the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump was his first U.S. visit as the leader of the Vietnamese Government, and also the first contact between senior Vietnamese and U.S. leaders since the two countries elected their new boards of leadership.

The two sides issued a joint statement, agreeing to strengthen the comprehensive partnership in a substantive, effective and sustainable manner, for the sake of both countries, and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region, on the basis of complying with the Charter of the United Nations and international laws, and respecting each other’s political institution, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

4. PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc made an official visit to Japan and attended the 23rd International Conference on The Future of Asia in Tokyo from June 4 to 8, at the invitation of Japanese PM ShinzoAbe. The focus of the visit was to promote economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two countries.

The visit was seen as an opportunity contributing to creating a new wave of investment from Japan into Viet Nam. It was also the sixth exchange of high-level delegations between the two countries in the first five months of 2017, which took place in the best stage of Viet Nam-Japan relations since the two countries established their diplomatic ties.

5. PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc visited Germany and attended the annual G20 Summit from July 5 to 8, at the invitation of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Chairman of the G20 in 2017.

 PM Phuc thanked Angela Merkel for the respectful welcome given to the high-level delegation of the Vietnamese Government.

Chancellor Merkel warmly welcomed PM Phuc to visit Germany, affirming that Germany’s invitation to Viet Nam to attend the G20 summit reflected the country’s appreciation for Viet Nam’s role and position in the international arena. She expressed her belief that the visit would give a strong boost to the Germany-Vietnam strategic partnership in the years ahead.

6. PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc led a Vietnamese delegation to officially visit Thailand from August 17 to 19, at the invitation of his Thai counterpart PrayutChan-ocha. The visit recorded significant results across the three aspects of state diplomacy, investment promotion and people-to-people diplomacy.

The two PMs affirmed the two countries’ pledge to support each other to become the investment attraction centers in the region, and to create favorable conditions for their goods to access each other’s market.

They also stressed the significance of maintaining peace, security and stability as well as the maritime safety and freedom in the East Sea; respecting the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); and ensuring the effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).

The two sides voiced their support for the prompt finalization of a Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC) between ASEAN and China.

7. PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended the 31st ASEAN Summit (ASEAN-31) and related summits, such as the ASEAN+3 Summit (with China, Japan and the Republic of Korea), the ASEAN+1 Summit (with China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, the United States, Canada, the European Union and the United Nations), and the 12th East Asia Summit (EAS). On the occasion, PM Phuc also attended the 9th Mekong-Japan Summit and the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) Leaders’ Meeting.

This was the most important event of ASEAN in 2017. More than 50 documents were signed, approved and recognized, featuring many relevant regional and world issues, contributing to building the three pillars of ASEAN, including the Political-Security Community, the Economic Community and the Socio-Cultural Community, whilst affirming the necessity in seriously implementing the DOC and promote the finalization of the COC./.

VGP