Vietnam strengthens ties with China, Australia, Algeria on AMM-58 sidelines

The AMM-58 and related meetings are taking place in Kuala Lumpur from Tuesday to Friday.

During talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, both sides reaffirmed the importance of Vietnam-China relations in each country's foreign policy.

They emphasized the need to boost coordination and implement high-level agreements effectively.

They agreed to enhance exchanges, effectively organize key diplomatic events during the rest of 2025, and boost the effective implementation of dialogue and cooperation mechanisms.

They were also committed to effectively concretizing agreements in specific areas, with a focus on promoting strategic transport connectivity, especially railway cooperation, enhancing the efficiency of working groups in various sectors, and boosting cooperation in innovation.

Close coordination in border management and protection, and building a peaceful, friendly, and cooperative shared border were also discussed.

On maritime issues, both ministers emphasized the importance of strictly implementing agreements and high-level common understandings; fully and effectively carrying out the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Vietnam Sea (DOC); and working with ASEAN to soon finalize an effective, substantive Code of Conduct (COC) in line with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

In his meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, the two sides expressed satisfaction with bilateral relations and were committed to preparing for upcoming high-level visits.

Minister Son, who is also Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister, called for accelerated implementation of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on agricultural labor and progress on a proposed digital economy MoU.

He also requested Australia to increase quotas and expand opportunities for highly skilled Vietnamese workers in healthcare, tourism, and information technology, while improving access for Vietnamese students to study in Australia.

Minister Wong affirmed Vietnam’s strategic importance to Australia and expressed readiness to share expertise in green transition, carbon markets, and emerging technologies.

Minister Son and his Algerian counterpart Ahmed Attaf agreed to boost delegation exchanges and revive cooperation projects in sectors such as oil and gas, trade, construction, mining, pharmaceuticals, halal industry, and agriculture.

Later the same day, Minister Son co-chaired the 16th Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and led the Vietnamese delegation to ASEAN+1 foreign ministers’ meetings with Japan, Russia, South Korea, the U.S., as well as the ASEAN+3 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with Japan, China, and South Korea.

In these meetings, the top Vietnamese diplomat emphasized the need to upgrade free trade agreements between ASEAN and its partners, including the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and the ASEAN-South Korea Free Trade Agreement.

He also called for increased support in implementing new initiatives such as the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement and the ASEAN Power Grid.

Vietnam also proposed exploring the possibility of establishing a regional energy agreement to ensure sustainable energy security and equitable energy transition.

At the 16th Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Minister Son proposed enhancing hard and soft infrastructure and cross-border trade; accelerating digital transformation and green technology; and developing interdisciplinary solutions for food-water-energy security, including investment and tech transfer for renewables.

Member states welcomed Vietnam’s proposal to host a regular Mekong-Japan Business Forum.

The session concluded with a joint co-chair statement by Vietnam and Japan.