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Jun 10, 2014 / 10:01

East Sea issue needs settled on the basis of international law: Italy's PM

Italian PM Matteo Renzi’s official visit to Viet Nam marked a new stage in the development of the two countries’ relations.

During their talks on the same day, the two PMs briefed each other about recent developments in their respective countries and discussed measures to beef up the bilateral ties.
 
 
Vietnam and Italy have agreed to work harder to lift two-way trade to 5 billion USD by 2016 from the current figure of 3.5 billion USD. 
The agreement was made during Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s talks in Hanoi on June 9 with his Italian counterpart Matteo Renzi, who is here for a two-day official visit. 
To meet the target, both countries will seek ways to strengthen connectivity between their businesses, while enhancing partnership in all fields, including apparel, footwear, supporting industry, construction materials, energy and food processing. 
PM Dung affirmed that Viet Nam always highly values Italy’s role and position in Europe and the world, hoping both countries would continue fostering the strategic partnership reached on the occasion of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit to Italy in January last year.
Meanwhile, PM Matteo Renzi spoke highly of Viet Nam’s great development achievements, saying his country always attaches importance to consolidating the strategic partnership with Viet Nam.
The two countries agreed to establish an Intergovernmental Committee for economic cooperation and the first meeting of the Committee is scheduled to take place in November this year.
The two PMs also exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues of common concern, vowing to continue close coordination at multilateral forums and international organizations, especially at the United Nations and ASEM among others.
As the coordinator of the ASEAN-EU relations, Viet Nam supports Italy to enhance relations with ASEAN.
The Italian PM voiced support for Viet Nam to strengthen comprehensive relations with the European Union and pledged to ask the EU for early ratification of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) and for early recognition of Viet Nam’s market economy status no later than the time when Viet Nam and the EU conclude the free trade agreement talks.
Regarding the East Sea situation, PM Dung informed the guest about China’s illegal installation of the oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 well within Viet Nam’s continental shelf and economic zone in line with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
China’s move seriously violates international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) to which China is a signatory, directly threatens peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea.
PM Dung asked Italy to lodge strong protests against China and advocate Viet Nam’s stance on settling the East Sea issue by peaceful means in line with international law.
In response, Renzi affirmed that Italy shares the EU and G7 Group’s viewpoint, which deeply concerns about the current East Sea situation and wants all sides to exercise their utmost restraint and solve disputes through peaceful measures in line with international law.