Deputy PM meets Philippine, Timor-Leste Foreign Ministers on sidelines of AMM-58
VGP - Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son had separate meetings with Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Maria Theresa Lazaro and Timor-Leste’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Bendito dos Santos Freitas.
Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son (L) meets Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Maria Theresa Lazaro, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, July 9, 2025 - Photo: VGP
These meetings took place on the sidelines of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-58) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on July 9.
At the meeting with the Philippine diplomat, Bui congratulated Lazaro upon her appointment as the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, expressing his belief that Lazaro would proactively contribute to advancing the Viet Nam-Philippines strategic partnership as well as regional and international cooperation.
Viet Nam stands ready to closely work with the Philippines to accelerate the implementation of bilateral agreements, for the common benefits of their peoples and for peace, stability, resilience, and sustainable development in the region, he noted.
Lazaro hailed the friendship and cooperation between the Philippines and Viet Nam over nearly 50 years, affirming that the Philippines always attaches great importance to its strategic partnership with Viet Nam.
She expressed her hope that the two countries will continue to maintain the positive momentum of cooperation across various fields, closely coordinate at regional and international forums, especially within ASEAN and contribute to maintaining peace, stability, and development in the region.
Both sides highly valued the positive developments in the Viet Nam–Philippines strategic partnership, underlining the importance of sustaining high-level visits and contacts and promoting the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation mechanisms.
The two sides vowed to further strengthen cooperation in areas such as defense and security, economy and trade, maritime affairs and ocean-related issues, education and training, and people-to-people exchanges.
They took the occasion to discuss international and regional issues of mutual concerns and committed to fostering close coordination and actively supporting each other at regional and international forums such as the United Nations and ASEAN, thereby contributing to peace and stability in the region.
Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son (R) meets Timor-Leste’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Bendito dos Santos Freitas, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, July 9, 2025 - Photo: VGP
During his meeting with the Timor-Leste's minister, Bui reiterated that Viet Nam will continue to work with other ASEAN countries to support Timor-Leste in completing the necessary procedures to soon become an official member of ASEAN.
Freitas affirmed that the Government of Timor-Leste will create a favorable business environment for Vietnamese enterprises to strengthen investment cooperation in his country.
He spoke highly of the performance of the Vietnamese enterprise Viettel in Timor-Leste.
Freitas affirmed his commitment to supporting Vietnamese candidates to run for positions at United Nations agencies and other international organizations, including the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) for the 2026–2035 term.
The Timor-Leste minister expressed his gratitude for Viet Nam's support during Timor-Leste's ASEAN accession process.
Timor-Leste always attaches importance to advancing its relations with Viet Nam, he asserted, calling on both sides to intensify cooperation in areas with great potential, maintain mutual support at regional and international forums, especially the United Nations and ASEAN./.
