Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh suggested both sides facilitate visits, especially those at high level to raise mutual understanding and political trust, as well as fully and effectively tap existing cooperation mechanisms and build new ones to step up collaboration in promising areas that match their interests.
On multilateral cooperation, he proposed working closely together and offering mutual support at multilateral forums and international organizations, making active contribution to dealing with regional and global issues.
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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (right) and Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs Joao Gomes Cravinho |
About economic ties, the host asked Portugal to create favorable conditions for Vietnamese farm produce to navigate the country. He wished the two nations would continue taking advantage of opportunities from Vietnam - E.U. Free Trade Agreement to raise two-way trade, toward lifting it to USD 1 billion in the near future.
On the occasion, he suggested Portugal soon approve the E.U. - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) to facilitate fair and win-win investment relationship between the two nations, urge the European Commission’s early removal of yellow card warning on Vietnam’s aquatic products to meet interests of Portuguese and E.U. consumers as well as ensure livelihoods for hundreds of thousands of workers in the Vietnamese aquaculture industry.
Cravinho, who is on Vietnam visit from January 17-19, affirmed that Portugal always considers Vietnam an important partner in the region and expects to further develop all-around ties with the country.
He agreed to enhance collaboration in fields of Portugal’s strength and Vietnam’s demand such as marine economy, maritime, renewable energy, circular economy and digital transformation.
The FM vowed to continue realizing contents of Vietnam - Portugal tourism cooperation agreement and sharing experience in tourism development, boost sport exchanges, particularly football training and increasing scholarships to students specialized in tourism management, and discuss the signing of labor cooperation deals.
He expressed his support for Vietnamese Prime Minister’s proposals related to joint work to fight climate change toward fulfilling goals set at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference.
Portugal will create favorable conditions for Vietnamese community living in the country, open the market for Vietnamese farm produce and have a say with the E.C. on the IUU yellow card, he said.
Regarding the East Sea issue, host and guest underscored the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea, settling disputes by peaceful means in line with international law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982.
Source: VNA