(VOVworld)- The Philippines’s President Rodrigo Duterte paid an official visit to Vietnam from September 28 to 29^th at the invitation of Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang.

During the visit, President Rodrigo Duterte held talks with President Tran Dai Quang, paid a courtesy visit to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, and met Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. Leaders of the two countries reiterated the spirit of the historic 1976 Joint Statement on the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties and the establishment of Vietnam-Philippine Strategic Partnership in November 2015. The leaders agreed to maintain bilateral cooperation mechanisms and effectively implement signed agreements. They pledged to promote peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight, unhindered trade in the region, especially in the East Sea, called on called on the involved parties to practice restraint, and not to threaten to use or use force, fully respect diplomatic and legal procedures, and settle disputes by peaceful means, on the basis of international law including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.  They agreed to strengthen efforts to build the ASEAN Community and uphold the ASEAN’s solidarity and central role in the regional architecture. They committed to maintain and promote peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of maritime and aviation along with unhindered trade in the region, particularly in the East Sea. The two sides pledged mutual support of the Philippines in hosting the ASEAN Summit and Vietnam in hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit next year.