(VOVworld) – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and the EU's High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Catherine Ashton discussed measures to boost Vietnam-EU ties, including the exchange of high-level delegations in future, during a phone conversation on Thursday. Both sides pledged their efforts to soon finalize the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement negotiations before the 10^th ASEM summit, and strengthen coordination to ensure the success of the ASEAN-EU Foreign Ministerial Meeting this July in Brussels. They also discussed international issues of mutual concern including the current situation in the East Sea. Ms. Ashton expressed her deep concern over China’s actions that could adversely affect regional security. She suggested related parties to seek a peaceful solution in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. She added that the EU urged involved parties to take measures to ease tensions and avoid unilateral acts that could harm regional peace and security.