Deputy PM works to strengthen ties with EU countries   Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh meets with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton.- VNA/VNS Photo BRUSSELS (VNS) - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh met with several senior diplomats from the EU ahead of the opening of the 20th ASEAN-EU Foreign Ministerial Meeting in Brussels yesterday. Viet Nam is currently the co-ordinator for ASEAN-EU dialogue relations for the 2012-15 period. In his meeting with German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier, Minh agreed that both countries needed to make greater efforts to strengthen strategic ties. The German side affirmed that his country was actively preparing for the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung scheduled for this October. Both sides also agreed to speed up major cooperation projects in Viet Nam, including the construction of underground line No. 2 and the establishment of the Viet Nam-Germany University in HCM City. Germany's foreign minister also the country appreciated Viet Nam's support in organising a business conference promoting trade and investment between Germany and countries in the Asia-Pacific scheduled to be held in HCM City this November. The two foreign ministers also pledged to coordinate activities celebrating the 40th anniversary of bilateral relations in 2015. During talks with Danish Foreign Minister Martin Lidagaard, both sides agreed to speed up the implementation of a 2014-2015 action plan to quickly realise the comprehensive partnership established in September last year. The two ministers reiterated both countries' determination to lift bilateral trade to US$1 billion by 2016. Denmark also pledged to urge the EU to finalise its FTA negotiations with Viet Nam as soon as possible. Lidagaard said Denmark would prioritise support for Viet Nam in areas such as climate change, green growth, renewable energy, food processing. Minh also met with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton. Both sides agreed that there was significant potential for ASEAN-EU ties to further develop. Minh applauded the EU representative's upcoming visit to Viet Nam in August to boost Viet Nam-EU relations. Regarding the situation in the East Sea, senior diplomats from the EU also expressed support for the need to respect international law to enhance security, peace and navigational freedom in the region. - VNS