(VOVworld)- On Monday, German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinemier began an official visit to Vietnam from October 30 to November 1 at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.

German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinemier and Deputy Prime Minster and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh

At talks, the two leaders agreed to work closely to strengthen support at multilateral forums and international organizations including Germany’s support for Vietnam to expand its relations with the EU. The two sides shared their concerns over recent complications in the East Sea and emphasized the need to settle disputes through peaceful means and respect diplomatic and legal procedures on the basis of international law including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said Vietnam treasured its friendship and cooperation with Germany. Minh asked Germany to support Vietnam in the infrastructure, clean renewable energy, environmental protection, and climate change response programs. The two sides praised the development of the Vietnam-Germany Strategic Partnership and agreed to increase exchanges and accelerate the signing of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement to raise two-way trade to 20 billion USD by 2020.