US President Obama and his wife welcome President Sang and his wife (Source: VNA)

State President Truong Tan Sang has said Vietnam, with its determination to boost renewal and international integration, will continue making active contributions to the negotiation process of a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, helping strengthen cooperation and diversity of the TPP linkage.

Sang made the affirmation at a summit of TPP members, including Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam and the US, in Honolulu, Hawaii, the US on November 12 (local time).

The Vietnamese leader suggested TPP members join efforts to ensure negotiations look towards a balanced agreement that really meets sustainable development goals of all members, pays due attention to the “for the development” principle and take into account the development gap and diversity of the members.

On the same day, on the sidelines of the APEC Leaders’ Week, President Sang had separate meeting with Chinese Party General Secretary and State President Hu Jintao, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

While meeting with Chinese Party General Secretary and State President Hu Jintao, President Sang emphasised Vietnam ’s strategic and long-term consistent policy of continuously consolidating and strengthening the friendship with China .

The Chinese leader affirmed that the Chinese Party, State and Government attach special importance to relations with Vietnam and are ready together with the Vietnamese Party, State and Government to lift the comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership between the two countries to a new height.

Applauding Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s recent visit to China , the two sides agreed to strengthen the exchange of visits by high-ranking leaders as well as boost economic-trade cooperation effectively and practically.

The two sides will also strengthen people-to-people exchanges at both central and local levels, especially between socio-political organisations and young generations.

Regarding the East Sea issue, the two leaders agreed to seek a satisfactory solution for this issue through peaceful negotiations.

President Sang stated that during the process of solving the East Sea issue, the two sides should observe the common perceptions of the two countries’ high-ranking leaders and seriously implement the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of the sea-related issue on the basis of international laws, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration on Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).

The two leaders agreed to maintain close coordination and cooperation for the success of this APEC Meeting and ensuring legitimate interests of developing countries in the regionalisation and globalisation of the world economy.

At the meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, the two sides expressed joys at the strong development of the Vietnam-Russia strategic partnership over the past time.

President Sang said that the two countries still see a great potential for cooperation so their ministries and branches should effectively implement agreements reached by the high-ranking leaders and actively seek practical measures to boost bilateral ties.

He suggested the Russian side speed up the progress of its large-scale projects in Vietnam , especially in energy, military technique.

The two sides should work together to make the Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant a symbol of the new friendship and cooperation between the two countries, he stressed.

The two leaders agreed that the fine energy cooperation between Vietnam and Russia has contributed to socio-economic development in each country.

The two sides exchanged views on regional and international issues of common concern as well as highly valued the role of each country in regional progresses and cooperation mechanisms.

Talking with the Australian Prime Minister, President Sang said he is pleased with the development of bilateral ties over the past time, especially in investment, trade, education-training, defence-security, and tourism.

He suggested the two countries’ leaders maintain visits and bilateral exchanges on the sidelines of international conferences. The two sides’ ministries and agencies should closely coordinate in finding out practical measures to boost bilateral ties, he added.

PM Julia Gillard affirmed the Australian Government’s support for Vietnam ’s effective renewal and reform efforts, saying that Australia is pleased to aid the country’s development projects.

The two sides agreed to continue close and effective coordination at regional and international forums, especially mechanisms centred by ASEAN, the East Asian Summit (EAS) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

Earlier on the day, President Sang attended the Vietnam-US Business Forum and Dialogue, which was co-organised by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the University of Hawaii . The forum drew the participation of representatives of nearly 200 US and Vietnamese businesses.

On the occasion, the President witnessed the signing of a technical assistance cooperation agreement in training and a cooperation agreement on MBA training between the University of Hawaii and the Hue University ; as well as a training cooperation agreement between the University of Hawaii and the Foreign Trade University of Vietnam.

On the same day, President Sang and his entourage joined a banquet and an art performance hosted by the US President in honour of APEC members’ leaders./.