Viet Nam, Brunei hold 2nd meeting of Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Minister of Foreign Affairs II of Brunei Darussalam Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof co-chaired the second meeting of the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation between Viet Nam and Brunei Darussalam (JCBC-2) in Brunei on September 7 as part of the Vietnamese diplomat's three-day official visit to Brunei.  

The Bruneian diplomat highlighted the significance of the official visit of his Vietnamese counterpart, which took place on the occasion of the 30^th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries. 

He spoke highly of potential and experience of Viet Nam in agriculture, aquaculture and construction, suggesting the nation share experience and encourage both sides' enterprises to promote cooperation in these sectors. 

For his side, Bui asked Brunei to facilitate the entry of Viet Nam's goods, particularly rice and farm products meeting Halal standards. 

He expected that Brunei will soon ratify the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), bringing full interests for member countries and creating new cooperative opportunities for both sides. 

Both sides expressed their delight on the fruitful development in economic cooperation, especially the bilateral trade value exceeding US$500 million, which was set for 2025. 

They pledged to continue launching signed agreements and extend the Memorandum of Understanding on agriculture and fisheries. 

The two FMs agreed to join hands in handling traditional and non-traditional security challenges, including transnational crime, cybercrime and terrorism as well as enhance negotiations of cooperative documents on transfer of sentenced persons and crime prevention. 

They were unanimous in encouraging and creating favorable conditions for their enterprises to foster connectivity, diversify supply and trade structure and seek for investment opportunities in all spheres of agriculture, aquaculture, forestry, petrol and processing industry.     

The two sides agreed to call on their airlines to open commercial direct air routes to boost economic ties, culture and tourism. 

Regarding international and regional issues of mutual concerns, they spoke highly of the close and effective coordination between the two nations at international and regional forums, remarkably at ASEAN and the UN, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world. 

They consented to continue fostering close collaboration and upholding principles and common stance of ASEAN in the relations with partners as well as over issues like Myanmar and the East Sea.

The two diplomats agreed both countries will enhance the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and closely coordinate in negotiations on an effective and efficient Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Following the meeting, the two ministers signed the minutes of the meeting and agreed to hold the third meeting in Viet Nam at an appropriate time./.