Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and State Secretary ofthe German Federal Foreign Office Emily Haber held the annual politicalconsultation between Vietnam and Germany in Hanoi on Oct. 7.

Theydiscussed orientations and specific measures to promote the twocountries’ relations in all fields, particularly in the five keybilateral cooperative areas of politics and diplomacy; trade andinvestment; justice and law; development cooperation and environmentalprotection; and education, science, technology, culture, communicationsand people-to-people exchanges.

The two sides also discussed andbasically completed contents of cooperative documents for signing on theoccasion of the upcoming visit to Vietnam on Oct. 11-12 by GermanChancellor Angela Merkel.

They affirmed their resolve to activelyand efficiently implement outstanding cooperative projects such as theVietnam-Germany University , the metro route 2 in Ho Chi Minh City, a vocational training centre in the north and other importantprojects.

They agreed to increase cooperation and back theirrespective candidacy at multilateral forums and internationalorganisations, especially at the United Nations.

Vietnamwelcomes and supports Germany ’s increased ties with ASEAN,contributing to development in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific.

In return, Germany affirmed its support for Vietnam ’s expanding comprehensive cooperation with the European Union.

They also discussed regional and international issues of common concern.

Alsothe same day, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh received State SecretaryEmily Haber, speaking highly of the development of the Vietnam-Germanyrelations in recent years.

He affirmed that Vietnam will workclosely with Germany to prepare for the upcoming visit to Vietnam ofChancellor Merkel, bringing the two countries’ relations to a strategicheight with strong, deep and efficient development for the interests ofthe two peoples and for peace, stability and development in the regionand the world./.