At the meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Thursday, they exchanged views in a sincere and frank manner and in a friendly atmosphere on the two countries’ relations and issues of common concern.

They affirmed the importance of developing friendly neighbour relations and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties and two States, contributing to maintaining peace, stability and cooperation in the region.

They discussed measures to enhance future bilateral cooperation, especially preparations for visits and contacts between senior leaders of the two countries this year, and linkages between ministries, localities and friendly exchanges among the two countries’ people.

They spoke highly of the adoption of the Guidelines for the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) at the recent ASEAN-China Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM), considered as an important step in maintaining peace, stability in the East Sea and increasing confidence between ASEAN and China.

Deputy PM Khiem stressed that the two sides should comply with the common perceptions on the East Sea issue of the two countries’ senior leaders and peacefully solve differences in the sea through friendly negotiations and on the basis of international law, particularly the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea strictly, adhere the to DOC and advance to the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Later the same day, Deputy PM Khiem met with Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd. They agreed with the need to continue implementing cooperation in specific fields within the framework of the Vietnam-Australia Action Plan for 2010-2013.

Rudd highly valued the adoption of the Guidelines for the implementation of the DOC by ASEAN and China.

Earlier, on July 19, Deputy PM and FM Pham Gia Khiem met with Secretary of State of the Philippines Albert del Rosario. They agreed to continue closely working in the East Sea issue within the ASEAN framework.

They stressed the need to respect and implement the DOC seriously and fully and welcomed the resumption of ASEAN-China SOM on the DOC with a view of promoting the implementation of the DOC and advancing to a COC.

As scheduled, Deputy PM Khiem will have bilateral contacts with the US Secretary of State and the Russian, Canadian and Japanese Foreign Ministers on July 22.